Advanced BioFuels USA

by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA)  This year’s CREEE EXPO + Forum brought together 46 organizations showcasing a cross-section of renewable energy (biofuels/biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) and energy efficiency technologies, including at least three organizations representing advanced biofuels (Advanced Biofuels USA, POET, National Biodiesel Board).

Thanks to The Environmental and Energy Study Institute for taking on the organization of the event.  See all the forum presentations and keynote speeches on the EESI website here.

The morning program featured Members of the U.S. Congress and throughout the day speakers discussed – in person and via live webcast – the role sustainable energy technologies can play in meeting America’s energy needs.

A steady stream of visitors to Advanced Biofuels USA’s information table included Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM, pictured above (right) with, from left, Carole Abourached and Joanne Ivancic) who discussed algae research in New Mexico;  Congressman Matt Cartwright (D- PA 17th, pictured below with Ivancic) who lingered at the Expo for a long time discussing all aspects of renewable energy; and Congressman John Delaney (D-MD 6th, pictured with Ivancic) who represents Advanced Biofuels USA’s district.

Staff from Congressional offices also stopped in, along with people from Turkey, Ethiopia, Italy and around the US.

They talked with Robert Kozak, Joanne Ivancic, Carole Abourached and Osaretin Omorodion (in photo below) about a myriad of issues related to advanced biofuels–land use, water use, ethanol as a cookstove fuel, conversion technologies, prices of renewable fuels and fossil fuels, carbon use fee options, educational resources and many more.

Abourached said she learned a lot attending some of the Forum presentations.  She didn’t realize how much regulations and policy affects ethanol markets; or that cellulosic ethanol costs more than gasoline, with corn ethanol costing less.  She read recently that with oil prices dropping,the prices of gasoline and corn ethanol are similar.

Omorodion said that this was a great networking opportunity for her.

As part of her presentation with the Bioenergy Panel at the CREEE  Forum, Ivancic chastized the Obama Administration for lagging in serious climate change mitigation policies.

She also introduced a Non-Renewable Carbon User Fee for Fuels program designed to put a price on the externalities of non-renewable fuels, finance the infrastructure needed to get renewables to customers, fund renewable fuel research through the Valley of Death, provide true choice for energy consumers and provide market-driven incentives for transition to renewable fuels.  Click here for more information with charts, graphs and tables.