Sen. Dorgan to give keynote address at Nat'l Biodiesel Conference

Sen. Byron Dorgan may have retired from public office, but his passion for domestically produced renewable energy is stronger than ever. He’s also well-positioned to continue shaping energy policy. 

The National Biodiesel Board announced that the former U.S. Senator, widely recognized as a national leader and expert in energy and agriculture issues, will give the keynote address on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. 

First elected to Congress in 1980, Dorgan represented his home state of North Dakota for 12 years in the U.S. House followed by 18 years in the U.S. Senate. After retiring, he became a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he recently joined former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott to launch and chair the center’s Strategic Energy Policy Initiative. 

As a House member and senator, Dorgan was a champion for biodiesel and other renewable fuels. He repeatedly sponsored legislation to create the renewable fuel standard and strongly advocated the biodiesel tax incentive. He also was an advocate for renewable energy programs in the farm bill.

“During his career in public office, Sen. Dorgan consistently championed renewable energy and energy independence, promoted the economic needs of rural America, and fought for sound economic policies,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. “Sen. Dorgan continues to be a thought leader in Washington, D.C., and is highly engaged in energy policy development. We’re thrilled that he will join us to share his insights as we lay a course for America’s advanced biofuel for the next 20 years.”

Recently Dorgan has been discussed in the media and elsewhere as under consideration to become Energy Secretary in President Obama’s second term should current Secretary Steven Chu step down. 

Dorgan was a senior senator on the appropriations, energy, and commerce committees in the Senate. He currently serves as co-chairman of the government relations practice Arent Fox. 

Biodiesel is an advanced biofuel made from sustainable resources such as soybean oil, recycled grease and other fats and oils.