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2004 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Trade Show
June 22-25, 2004 – Madison, Wisconsin
20th Anniversary!
Summary and Review
The 20th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Trade Show (FEW) was
held June 22-25, 2004, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison,
Wisconsin. Wisconsin was selected for the FEW because it is one of the
fastest growing ethanol producing states in the country. When the new
plants under construction com on-line, it will be the 6th largest ethanol
producing state in the United States. The FEW also had the active
participation and support from the Wisconsin Ethanol Producers
Association, who helped to promote the FEW statewide.
Wisconsin is the home of four operating ethanol plants and two plants
under construction, with more on the drawing board. Total current and
under-construction annual production capacity in-state is 159 million
gallons.
Wisconsin proved to be a popular venue for the FEW. A record breaking
1,501 people were in attendance, a 21% increase from 2003. There were also
a record number of exhibitors: 167 companies utilizing 189 booth spaces.
The composition of attendees included: 48% industry suppliers (companies
who provide technology, products and services to the industry); over 22%
current and future ethanol producers; 5% government and academia; and 1%
media. The balance of attendees consisted of representatives from trade
associations, consultants, financial organizations, attorneys, insurance
representatives, risk management consultants and individuals with a
general interest in ethanol. Ethanol Industry interests and attendance
came from 45 states, 6 Canadian provinces, and international
representations from 30 countries altogether.
Program Highlights
General Sessions: In his welcoming remarks, Mike Bryan, President
of BBI International, said “The industry is in the right place at the
right time in history. It is at a point where we can claim the rightful
place for renewable fuels.” Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation Frank
Busalacci said he was pleased with the state’s rapid involvement with the
ethanol industry. Dan Schoof, incoming Director of the state’s Division of
Energy, said he really liked the job-creating potential of the industry.
For the fourth consecutive year, AgDay Network filmed segments of its
nationally-syndicated television program, “Weekend Marketplace,” at the
FEW. This segment featured a panel of veterans from the ethanol industry
identifying significant milestones over the past 20 years and their impact
on agriculture and the economy. Panelists included Bob Dinneen, President
and CEO of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Association, Martin Andreas, Assistant
to the Chief Executive of Archer Daniels Midland Company, and Kathy Bryan,
Vice President of BBI International. Dinneen reviewed the legislation that
helped move the industry from the “Still on every Hill” of the past to the
sophisticated, dynamic, growing industry it is today.
Iogen’s Pat Foody, as moderator of the International Panel, said “The
industry is being driven by a public desire toward a secure sustainable
business and opportunities for agriculture." Sergio Trindade of SE2T
International Ltd. stressed the importance of ethanol production outside
of the United States. He also predicted that in five years the United
States might produce more ethanol than current world leader Brazil.
Trindade then discussed the balance in trade such a change might bring.
Australian ethanol project manager Bill Elliot discussed the struggles the
Australian ethanol industry is facing. "Banks haven't been to conferences
like this and felt the energy of the American industry," he said. Per
Carstedt of the BioAlcohol Fuel Foundation in an inspiring presentation
called for people to "think big" in regards to the ethanol industry.
Carstedt said a move to renewable fuels needs to be immediate and on a
large scale to prevent massive environmental catastrophe.
Breakout technical workshops on the first day covered a variety of
specific topics on risk management, distillers grains, emissions, the
‘back end of the plant.” Opportunities, emissions and environmental
requirements, improving product yields, antimicrobial research and plant
management and operations were also discussed in the workshops. The
breakout sessions provide current information on important issues from
industry peers. The next morning the technical workshops included quality
control, safety and technological advancements on the horizon.
The afternoon of the final day included the reflections of three ethanol
producers, Keith Kor, Corn Plus, Russ Abarr, New Energy and Dannie
Allison, Abengoa, who have been in the industry since its start. They used
the newly released booklet, “Fuel Ethanol: A Technological Evolution… from
the Still on Every Hill to the Trading Floor,” as the basis for their
conversation about what technological changes they experienced and the
impacts they had on their operations and productivity. They agreed the
industry has come a long way from when it used to use litmus paper to
check pH levels.
Also, something new…. a lively, first-ever open dialogue on plant
production issues called “Real World Round Table.” Twelve experienced
people working in the operations of ethanol plants discussed the various
ways that their plants have solved common problems. Areas they addressed
in an informal manner were topics like emissions, not relying solely on
automation, bottlenecks, avoiding dryer fires, wet or dry distillers
grains and more. The panel typified how helping one another out through
sharing of such information helps make the ethanol industry so strong.
Conversations in the final panel, the annual “Forum of Futuristic
Thinkers,” ranged from cellulose ethanol plants to a global bioenergy
coalition, and from new technology to the logistics of replacing the use
of petroleum in the world with ethanol. There is a growing awareness that
the ethanol industry needs to look down the road and consider how
production and marketing will be impacted by two primary developing areas
of change – production of cellulosic ethanol and the globalization of
ethanol. Dynamic research is bringing production of ethanol from
cellulosic materials closer and when it is ready for commercialization, it
will have a tremendous impact on the volume of ethanol produced and
available. Globalization demands that we examine and prepare for changes
in markets, marketing practices and relationships. Everyone had agreed
that the Biorefinery will be the way of the future and that it will have
numerous impacts and ramifications to be prepared for.
2004 Award of Excellence: This year’s “Award of Excellence”
recipient was Dennis Vander Griend, Senior Process Engineer of ICM, Inc.,
one of the leading design/build firms in the country.
The FEW Scholarship Fund: This year was the sixth year for the FEW
Scholarship Fund. A total of $3,240 was raised through a
support-walk-celebrate event of that led participants to the 20th
anniversary celebration at Olin-Turville Park. Each participant in the
fundraiser received a commemorative FEW t-shirt.
Three scholarship awards of $1,000.00 each were presented during the FEW.
David DeVoe received an Operations Scholarship for Badger State Ethanol in
Wisconsin. Dave is a student at Bismarck State College, North Dakota. Two
academic scholarships were awarded to Derek Abbott and Eleonora Bellissimi
respectively, both students at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
2005 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo
The 2005 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo will be held June 28 –
July 1, 2005 at the Kansas City Convention Center and Kansas City Marriott
in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2005 FEW will include an expanded trade
show, and exposition of industry suppliers in a new “Expo” format. The
program will include exciting topics that will continue to meet the needs
of the industry worldwide.
Please visit the new conference website,
www.fuelethanolworkshop.com, for information about the venue, program,
sponsorship, Expo space, and registration.
2004 FEW Steering Committee
Kelly S. Davis is
the Quality Manager for Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company and Glacial Grain
Spirits. Ms. Davis has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Marshall
University. She has over 20 years experience in the grain processing
industry with emphasis in ethanol production for fuel, industrial and
beverage purposes. As Quality Manager she is responsible for assisting
operations technically, assuring valid data from the lab operations and
quality control / quality assurance of the products. She also has
regulatory responsibilities in environmental compliance. She is a member
of the RFA Technical Committee and also enjoys working with the Minnesota
Corn Growers helping to find expanded uses for Corn and DDGS. She is
married with two sons and resides in Starbuck, Minnesota.
Asif
Malik is the Plant Manager of largest Abengoa Bioenergy ethanol
facility in York, NE. He has bachelors in Chemical Engineering and Masters
degree in Industrial Operations. He has been in the ethanol industry
operations and Management for the past fifteen years. He is integral part
of agressive and continued growth of Abengoa Bioenergy around the globe
and is a member of RFA technical committee.
Sharon Sturm is
the Process Manager at Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin. She has degrees
in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and has been in management in the
ethanol industry for the past 7 years. Prior to working in the ethanol
industry, she was a chemist for Consolidated Nutrition and a high school
science/math teacher. She is also a member of the RFA Technical Committee.
Winners for
the 2004 FEW Golf Tournament:
1st Place: Jim Miers, Ron Dunbar, John McKenna, Bruce Rasmussen
2nd Place: Erik Huschitt, Robert Wright, Todd Stanbrook, Chris Cahoon
3rd Place: Craig Pilgrim, Ken Peterson, Dave Haehnle, Don Magness
Last Place: Larry Coulthard, Allan Bly, Brian Fremo, & John Monks
Closest to the Pin: John McNichol
Closest to the Pin: Phillip Rae
Longest Putt: John Humphrey
Longest Drive: Mike Peterson
Congratulations!
For more information, contact the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop
& Trade Show Presenters:
BBI International
Angela Damman,
Conference Division Director
PO Box 1146
Salida, Colorado 81201
USA
Tel: + 719-539-0300
Fax: + 719-539-0301
(Mountain Time)
adamman@bbibiofuels.com
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