Plans continue to evolve for the upcoming biofuels conference to be held June 24 – 26, 2012 in Billings, Montana. Speakers and sponsors have joined on the agenda for the 22nd annual EPAC (Ethanol Producers And Consumers) organized conference “Biofuels: Diversity Advances Growth”. The event that will take place at the Billings Hotel and Conference Center will open June 24 at 6:30 PM with a social get together, followed by speaker sessions on Monday and again Tuesday morning. EPAC, a long time advocate for the production and use of biofuels, will showcase the possibilities for advanced biofuels that are available in this region of the nation.

Speakers who have been recently confirmed include Ron de Yong, Director of the MT Department of Agriculture in Helena and Douglas A. Durante, Executive Director for the Clean Fuels Development Coalition from Washington DC. Durante, who has been involved in biofuels for over 30 years will present view point from the nation’s Capitol.

Montanans to be showcased include Clifford Bradley and Bob Kearns who are invited to update about the Montana Microbial project to develop fish feed from barley. Earl Fisher Biofuels of Chester Montana will tell about production and use of biodiesel made from locally grown oilseed crops such as canola and/or camolina and how the indigenous biodiesel has powered railroad locomotives in the Havre switchyard.

Kurt Rosentrater from Iowa State U will speak on recent developments with distillers grains (DG) a co product in the ethanol process. DG is a high protein nutritious supplement mainly used for livestock feed. Phil Madson of Cincinnati, Ohio with KATZEN International will tell about the facilities his company has built in European nations to process barley and wheat to ethanol. Howard Haines, with Montana DEQ will report on the use of biofuels in the state, and update on current projects.

Abener Engineering and Construction Services, an international business associated with Abengoa will be represented at the conference as a sponsor and presenter. Abengoa has recently begun construction of a cellulosic ethanol plant in Kansas. Bret Healy, with River Bluff Strategies in South Dakota, will speak on an ethanol project under construction that utilizes an anaerobic digester.

Speakers previously announced included Rob Vierhout, from Brussels, Belgium; with ePURE, a European trade association that promotes renewable ethanol and John Urbanchuk, Technical Director for Entrix from Pennsylvania; Dan Schwartzkopf, with ICM, coming from Torrington Wyoming and Doug Hagle, Director of Risk Management Crop Insurance from Billings; also Greg Kegel, Dean of the College of Technical Sciences MSU Northern, Havre.

Montana has strong agricultural production with many diverse crops that can become biofuels. Crops such as oil seeds and small grains can be raised on farms in Montana, Saskatchewan, Idaho, and neighboring states and provinces and they have great possibilities to be processed to fuel. Speakers will explain how advanced biofuels can benefit this region and how these clean, renewable fuels can replace the petroleum products imported from Mideast nations that use the dollars paid for oil to fight against the United States.

A Highlight of the conference will be to award a student with the “Spirit of Ethanol” plaque, a $100 bill, and free conference registration. Any student who has completed a project related to biofuels can submit that project to be considered for the award. A project could be an essay on ethanol or biodiesel, on the use of distillers grains, a method to process a grain to fuel or fuel performance or any other project related to biofuels.

Anyone wishing more information may check the EPAC web page at www.ethanolmt.org . This award is sponsored by Lallemand Ethanol Technology, an international company based in Milwaukee that is a leading supplier of fermentation ingredients for fuel ethanol.

The Montana Wheat and Barley committee is a cosponsor for the conference that brings attendees from across the state and nation. Other sponsors at this time include Abener, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, KATZEN International, CHS, Cary Street Partners, ASI Industrial of Billings, MT: Also Lallemand Ethanol Technologies, BNSF Railroad, ICM, and National Corn Growers,

EPAC conferences always include special Montana events and for 2012, the Preconference Sunday June 24 activity will feature a guided tour to the Little Big Horn Battle field to view a reenactment of Custer’s Last Stand. EPAC has made arrangements with the tour company for seating. You will experience the force of the 7th cavalry and feel the intensity of the Indian horsemen, see a tee pee village and period costumes. The updated correct e-mail address is: tours@montanafunadventures.com

Details will be on EPAC’s web site or email for more information.
More details will be forthcoming and will be on the website. Sponsors are needed, and
for more information, please call EPAC at 406-785-3722 or email epac@ethanolmt.org
or Patsy@ethanolmt.org.

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