Energy Company Executive and Climate Change Expert to Discuss Measures to Advance Biofuels at BIO’s World Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 9, 2007) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today that an executive of Chevron Technology Ventures and an expert from the Chicago Climate Exchange will discuss what the alternative energy industry needs to quickly ramp up production and availability of biofuels during a Saturday, March 24 plenary session of the 2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. The World Congress runs March 21-24 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Dana Flanders, president of Chevron Technology Ventures, and Michael Walsh, senior vice president of the Chicago Climate Exchange, will take part in a lunch plenary session titled, “What It Will Take to Develop a New Biofuels Infrastructure,” at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 24.
Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla will address the opening lunch plenary session on Thursday March 22. Khosla is the head of Khosla Ventures, a company that actively invests in breakthrough scientific work in clean technology areas such as biorefineries for energy and bioplastics, solar, and other environmentally friendly technologies.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, said, “In this year’s State of the Union Address, President Bush proposed a game-changing solution not only for energy problems but also for environmental issues. Biotech companies are working with the investment community, farmers, and energy companies to reach the high target for production of biofuels proposed by the President and Congressional leaders. The World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing will explore new research and infrastructure requirements to support new alternative fuel standards.”
During three days of panel discussions at the World Congress, executives from energy, agricultural and industrial biotechnology companies will present the latest research and development and new projects to commercialize large-scale production of ethanol from cellulose. Panel sessions include:
Cellulosic Ethanol in California
Paul Zorner, Finistere Partners
Rick Zalesky, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC
Anna Rath, Ceres, Inc.
Anna Halpern-Lande, Tellurian Biodiesel
Thursday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Pathways for Introducing New Biobased Transportation Fuels
John Ashworth, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Scott Mason, ConocoPhillips Petroleum
Jennifer Holmgren, UOP LLC
Al Darzins, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Friday, March 23 at 10:45 a.m.
Improvements in Fermentation for Ethanol Production
Lisbeth Olsson, BioCentrum-DTU
Stephen Hughes, USDA, ARS, NCAUR, BBC
Thomas Jeffries, U.S. Forest Products Laboratory
Hal Alper, Massachusettes Institute of Technology
Friday, March 23 at 4:15 p.m.
Integrated Corn Cellulose Biorefinery
Mark Stowers, Broin Companies
Don Higgins, Novozymes
Susanne Kleff, MBI International
Saturday, March 24 at 9:00 a.m.
For more program information about the World Congress, visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/programs/. The World Congress is hosted by BIO, the American Chemical Society, the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council, the European Federation of Biotechnology, BIOTECanada and EuropaBIO.
Advance media registration for the 2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing is now available online. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. To register, please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/media/. Reporters and editors working full-time for print or broadcast news organizations may register onsite with valid media credentials. All freelancers and online publications must register in advance by 5:00 p.m. ET Thursday, March 15, 2007.
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest biotechnology conference and exhibition.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO CEO & Investor Conference
Feb. 12-14, 2007
New York City
2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
March 21-24, 2007
Orlando, FL
BIO International Convention
May 6-9, 2007
Boston, MA
BIO VentureForum-East 2007
June 18-20, 2007
Montreal, Canada
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