Minnesota Farmer Elected as Chair of National Biodiesel Board
Governing Board of Biodiesel Producers and Feedstock Providers to Lead Industry
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.– The biodiesel industry has chosen Minnesota farmer-leader Ed Hegland to chair the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). A soybean grower from Appleton, Minn., Hegland will help lead the organization during a year of continued growth, and challenges, for the alternative fuel.
Hegland has served as a board member for the nonprofit trade association since 2004, representing the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, and was elected to the governing board last year.
“We have had some great successes in growth of the industry, and in policy in Washington D.C., over the last few years,” said Hegland at NBB’s Washington, D.C. board meeting where the elections took place. “Going forward our board will work together to build upon those, and to be the unified voice for a sustainable future for the biodiesel industry.”
Other officers elected to lead the board are:
- Gary Haer, vice chair, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., Ames, Iowa
- Graham Noyes, secretary, Imperium Renewables, Grays Harbor, Wash.
- Ed Ulch, treasurer, Iowa Soybean Association, Solon, Iowa.
This was the first election held under NBB’s newly adopted structure to help ensure the industry’s ability to speak with one voice. The structure streamlines and clarifies NBB’s membership categories, guarantees more biodiesel producers seats on the governing board, and envisions an increasing proportion of biodiesel producer-leaders over time.
- Jim Conway, Griffin Industries (reelected)
- Kris Kappenman, ADM (reelected)
- Darryl Brinkmann, American Soybean Association - immediate past chair (reelected)
- Jeff Trucksess, Green Earth Fuels
- Bob Metz, South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (reelected)
- Jake Stewart, Organic Fuels
- Denny Mauser, Western Iowa Energy
- Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board (reelected)
- David Womack, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board (reelected)
- Robert Stobaugh, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board (reelected)
- Chuck Neece, FUMPA
The NBB recognized Darryl Brinkmann for his years of dedicated service to the industry, as the outgoing board chair. He served that role from 2004-2007. Outgoing board members Fred Wellons, Tellurian Biodiesel; Gene Gebolys, World Energy - chairman of the regulatory committee; Jim Boushka, Smithfield BioEnergy; Bill Ayres, Ag BioEnergy; and John Campbell, AGP, were recognized.
Based in Jefferson City, Mo., the board is dedicated to coordinating the biodiesel industry and educating the public about the fuel. Its membership is comprised of biodiesel producers, state, national, and international feedstock and processor organizations; fuel marketers and distributors; and technology providers. NBB membership has steadily grown during the last several years, signifying the escalation of biodiesel interest in the United States.
Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning alternative fuel that can be made from any fat or oil, such as soybean oil. It can be used in any diesel engine with few or no modifications, in blends of 20 percent (B20) and lower. It significantly reduces emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Biodiesel offers similar performance to petroleum diesel while providing superior lubricity. It has the highest positive energy balance of any liquid fuel – 320 percent. About 1,200 retail pumps carry the fuel.
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More information about biodiesel can be found at www.biodiesel.org.
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