Advanced Ethanol Council becomes Advanced Biofuels Business Council

The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), founded in 2011 to represent advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers and technology providers, is expanding its organisational charter to include other types of advanced biofuels. The new group, the Advanced Biofuels Business Council (ABBC), has announced new corporate and board members.

“The Council is already taking a collaborative approach to problem solving and advancing policy positions to accelerate the commercial deployment of many different types of advanced biofuels,” said Adam Monroe, President of the Americas for Novozymes and ABBC Chairman. “So this is really about accurately reflecting the breadth of our membership and their advanced technologies, while continuing to put the industry in the best position to succeed.”

Membership expansion

As part of the expansion, the Council announced a number of other moves. Two existing members, POET-DSM and Cellerate™, will take seats on the Board of Directors.

New member company Aemetis will also join the Board. Aemetis is an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company, employing over 130 employees worldwide. Aemetis owns and operates a 60 million gal/y capacity ethanol and animal feed production facility in Keyes, California, and a 50 million gal/y capacity renewable chemical and advanced fuel production facility on the East Coast of India.

“As Aemetis continues to explore new opportunities in advanced biofuels and chemicals, it is clear that we must continue to engage at the policy level to ensure the long term stability and success of our industry,” said Aemetis CEO Eric McAfee. “We appreciate the Council’s expansion and look forward to working with the many advanced biofuel business leaders already in the group.”

Furthermore, Sweetwater Energy will join ABBC as a corporate member. Sweetwater Energy is a Rochester NY based renewable biochemical producer, and uses a unique technology to convert low cost plant materials to a variety of high value biochemicals. The company is currently in talks to finalise the location of its first commercial scale facility.

“Sweetwater is laser focused on building our first commercial scale biomass to biochemical conversion facility, but we understand the synergies between a robust advanced biofuels industry and biochemicals,” said Arunas Chesonis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sweetwater Energy. “We very much look forward to working with the Advanced Biofuels Business Council.”

Renewable fuel standards and advanced biofuels

As membership grows, the group expects to be pushing an agenda focused on defending and enabling the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), building political support for comprehensive tax reform and expanding market access for advanced biofuels.

“If you look at the history of policymaking for renewable fuels, it is very clear that good things happen when we stick together and speak with one voice,” said Executive Director Brooke Coleman. “That’s what we are focused on at the Council, putting the advanced biorefining industry in the best position to succeed.”

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/21072015/aec-expands-charter-to-become-abbc-1139/