The 10th Annual Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference concluded after three days at the Terranea Report in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Over 400 attendees joined Growth Energy to prepare for “The Next Wave” of biofuels by listening to panel discussions with industry experts and Growth Energy staff, participating in networking and charity fundraising events, and hearing from Oakland Athletics legend and subject of the hit movie “Moneyball," Billy Beane.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor kicked off the conference by keynoting an address thanking members for their efforts and support over the last year that helped secure a commitment from the Trump Administration on year-round E15 sales, “we secured one of the industry’s most significant victories since the Renewable Fuel Standard was last expanded in 2007: we opened the door to year-round E15, unleashing the real market potential of higher ethanol blends." 

Skor also discussed the industry’s top priorities for 2019, including ensuring a strong Renewable Fuel Standard during the reset, restoring and growing trade markets around the globe, reallocating lost gallons due to small refinery exemptions, and getting E15 rulemaking across the finish line. Whatever the challenge or opportunity, Skor emphasized that after ten years of pushing ahead, the biofuels industry is ready: “This ELC is Growth Energy’s tenth, a noteworthy milestone. And the next ten years will be even more exciting than the last... This is a new era for America’s ethanol industry.” 

Attendees also heard from fuel retailers, corn growers, climate advocates, experts on international markets and regulatory affairs, and engine performance experts from Growth Energy’s American Ethanol program about the future of biofuels.