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June 24, 2009
Fuel Ethanol Workshop features industry leaders
Grand Forks, N.D. — The Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo celebrated its 25th anniversary Tuesday, June 16, with a general session featuring an array of ethanol industry leaders. Several speakers were highlighted including David Hiller, Executive Director, Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, who gave the welcome address. He was followed by Gen. Wesley Clarke, who delivered an inspiring keynote address.
Following the keynote, Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, gave his speech, titled: “The Near-Term State of the U.S. Ethanol Industry.” Dinneen's speech focused on popular topics among ethanol detractors including land-use theory, the food versus fuel debate and energy return compared to fossil oil.
“Mother Earth is suffering from a century of unrestrained petroleum use,” said Dinneen, “and steps will need to be taken to restore our planet to good health. … In the U.S. ethanol industry, when we face great challenges, we do great things.”
Dinneen pointed out the ethanol industry's successes despite a flagging economy. “Look at last year – in the face of a deepening economic downturn, negative 3% growth and rising unemployment, the U.S. ethanol industry grew by 34 percent, opening 31 new plants and adding an additional 240,000 new jobs!”
Dinneen attributed much of the sharp rhetoric leveled at ethanol to fear of ethanol's ability to replace fossil fuels in the U.S. energy sector. “The reason we face so much criticism is not that our adversaries fear we are failing but that they are scared we are succeeding.”
Following Dinneen's speech, attendees were treated to the general session panel, titled “Research, Technology and the Future of Ethanol Production,” led by Per Falholt, Executive Vice President-Head of R&D at Novozymes. Per was joined on stage by some of the leading voices in the ethanol industry including: Dave Vander Griend, CEO, ICM Inc; Rob Elliott, Processor Preferred Marketing Manager, Monsanto Company; Neal Briggi, Global Head of Enzymes, Syngenta Biotechnology Inc; Wes Bolsen, Chief Marketing Officer & Government Affairs, Coskata Inc; Larry Johnson, North American Business Development, Inbicon; Vonnie Estes, Vice President-Business Development, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol; and Jeff Broin, CEO, Poet LLC.
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