Over three trillion dollars. That is the estimated value of the petroleum-based fuels market in the global economy. Can the biofuels industry claim a substantial portion of this market? Business opportunities abound, and support for biofuels is equally strong in Washington as it is on Wall Street. President Obama regularly champions biofuels as a promising solution to America’s energy crisis. Now that the nation is more concerned about the risks associated with fossil fuels after the BP oil spill, the biofuels industry is more popular than ever.

What is the latest news from the biofuels industry? How does recent legislation impact biofuels companies? What are the cutting-edge business opportunities in the current biofuels market? Should investors be cautious about biofuels in light of their environmental impacts? Join our distinguished panelists for a discussion on The Business of Biofuels: Sustainability, Policy, Investment, and the Future of the Industry. In a followup conference in the coming months, Agrion will dive deeper into Biofuels Technologies.

08:30am:    Reception, Networking and Continental Breakfast

08:50am:    Welcome and Introduction

09:00am:    Panel Discussion Begins

1.    Biofuels Overview and Sustainability: First and Second Generations

• Where and how are biofuels actively being used today? Does their use have a positive, negative or net-neutral effect on climate change and other social and environmental issues?
• What technologies are used in the process of converting raw biomass materials into useable biofuel? Are these conversion technologies scalable and sustainable? Are these technologies price-competitive with those used in processing oil and gasoline?
• What is the current standing on the food versus fuel debate? Climate is already having an impact on agricultural conditions worldwide; can we count on future predictions for crop yields?

2.    Federal and State Legislation: Help or Hindrance?

• The amended Renewable Fuels Standard program (RFS2) requires an overall increase in biofuel production plus the stipulation that 58.3% of the total produced by 2022 come from advanced biofuels. The program has volume requirements by year. Are these goals realistic?
• The recently proposed "Advanced Biofuels Investment Act" gives a 30% tax credit for investment in advanced biorefineries. What are the benefits and drawbacks of this bill? What is the likelihood of this bill passing? If passed, what impact will it have on the industry and the environment?
• California recently strengthened biofuel standards with the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. What are the short and long-term business and environmental implications of this legislation?

3.    Investment Climate: Trekking through the Valley of Death

• What is the current climate of Venture Capital, Corporate Finance, Government Investment, and Project Financing for biofuels companies as we begin to see signs of economic recovery?
• How can biofuels companies attract financing? From what deal structures and financing options can they choose?
• Discussion of the recent investments in biofuels from Total, Shell and Exxon.
• Is it too risky to invest in 3rd and 4th generation biofuels?

4.    The Future of Biofuels: From Emerging Technologies to Commercial Success?

• What is a realistic outlook for the biofuels industry? Is it likely to keep pace with current predictions?
• Can biofuels truly reduce the use of petrolium-based fuels or replace them all together? Or, will they be confined to certain verticles that electromobility cannot enter such as aviation?
• What are the breakthrough 3rd and 4th generation biofuel technologies currently being studied? What are their efficiency levels? Can algae-based biofuels be sustainable and price competitive with petroleum without subsidies?
• Which biofuel companies are the "ones to watch"?

10:30am:    End of Panel Discussion: Q&A, Networking

11:30am:    End of Conference

Speakers:

AE Biofuels Inc., Eric A. McAfee, Chairman and CEO
Bioenergy Producers Association, Jim Stewart, Chairman of the Board
Cleantech Law Partners, Mackinnon A. Lawrence, Attorney
LiveFuels, Inc., Dave Jones, COO & Co-Founder

Moderator:

Price BIOstock, Inc., C. Scott Miller, Marketing Consultant

Download the Agenda

Location:  Garden Court Hotel @ 520 Cowper St. in Palo Alto, CA. 

Driving directions:  From 101 (North or South): Exit University Avenue, go west. Make a left onto Cowper Street. Hotel is on the right-hand side in first block. From 280 (North or South): Exit Sand Hill Road, head east. Turn right onto Arboretum Road. Make a left onto Palm, which turns into University Avenue. Turn right onto Cowper Street. Hotel is on the right side in first block.

Public Transit: Take Caltrain to the Palo Alto stop, upon leaving the train station follow University Avenue 0.4 miles (6 blocks) to Cowper St, turn right.  The Garden Court is half a block down on the right hand side.

Registration:

Log in to www.agrion.org or create a new profile.  Register directly by clicking the "Register" button above.

Please contact jennifer.jackson@agrion.org for any further questions.