Who We Are...

The American Biofuels Council was founded early in 2007 by Sean O’Hanlon.

In June of 2007 the Council had announced its first Board of Governors and by September, ABC had established a strong base of educational programming. By February 2008, ABC had formed strategic partnerships around the country and conducted numerous presentations.

To date, the message of the Council has reached over 500,000 individuals ranging from automotive technicians, educators, fleet operators, training institutions, public interest groups, entrepreneurs, and elected officials all across the nation.

Our Mission:

"To conduct research, development, education and promote the accelerated use of all sustainable biofuels; and to advise decision makers on how these goals are best accomplished."

The American Biofuels Council is an independent and impartial National organization founded to conduct research, coordinate communications and provide innovative solutions for alternative fuels and other products derived from biomass. With our portfolio of experts ABC is the leading solutions provider in the field of biofuels and bioenergy.

The Council also serves as an information network that is fully equipped to educate the public, media, and elected officials about the true economic and environmental benefits associated with the production and use of biofuels.

What we do:

ABC is a think and do tank. We carry out our mission through the deployment of innovative educational programming, collaborative research projects, biofuels technology deployment, technical and business development consulting, and support  efforts to develop biofuel related policies at the local, State, and Federal levels. The purpose of the American Biofuels Council is to:

• Conduct research and provide accurate analysis and education on all biofuels and feedstocks.                                                     
• Develop a repository of information on biofuels from biomass technology, science, products, processes, patents, and economics.                                                                               
• Help establish quality standards and best practices for biofuels, feedstocks, coproducts, systems technology, and econometrics.

• Provide accurate and timely information to the public and media on initiatives, funding opportunities, and developments from across the entire field of biofuels.
  
  
• Provide networking and collaboration opportunities.
  
  
• Facilitate commercialization and market development of biomass to biofuels production and greenhouse gas abatement.

Our Vision

Our goal is for the U.S. to be the world leader of advanced biofuels R&D, production, and trade. By 2020 biofuels will be a vital component of a national energy policy which increasingly relies on clean, domestic, and affordable renewable fuels.

Positive market dynamics coupled with federal counter-cyclical policy will support a substantial and stable market. Biofuels should replace at least 20% of petroleum demand by 2020.

Energy Security, National Security, Economic Security, and Environmental concerns are all growing significantly and increasing the demand for biofuels.

We can be completely free from petroleum by 2040.

Founder and Executive Director
Sean O'Hanlon

Over the years Mr. O'Hanlon has earned the respect of colleagues in every facet of the biofuels industry from Seattle to São Paulo; briefed U.S. Congressmen, Senators, Governors, and Officials in foreign countries; authored more than 200 articles on biofuels, co-created and developed the Certified Biofuels Educator (CBE) program, served on the Center for Hemispheric Policy Energy Security task force; chaired round table discussions and entire international conferences. He receives between 15-25 invitations per week to serve as either speaker or panelist at a variety of business, educational, and governmental venues about Algae technologies and biofuels. He regularly gives interviews to the media, has been called a "Bioneer" and described as "One of the most influential voices in biofuels".

Members

Committee Members and Governors include academics, researchers, growers, producers, distributors, public policy makers, legislators, private enterprise leadership, and renewable fuel advocates, who agree to work together as the Council helps to constructively shape the national energy debate.The Council is a pro-active, non-profit organization that accomplishes its research, education and outreach through the initiatives and determination of its ad-hoc committees.

Board of Governors                                                                                              Dr. Russell Chianelli (Science Advisory Board)                                                        
Joe Frankie III
Dr. Stuart A. Julis
Dr. Partick Kinney (Science Advisory Board)
Jim Lane IV (Biofuels News Editor)                                                                           Michael Ott                                                                                                            Dr. George Philippidis (Science Advisory Board)                                                      
Sam Shepherd (Chief Scientific & Engineering Advisor)                                    Joanna Schroeder (Director of Communications)                                                    Will Thurmond (Chairman of Research & Development)                                             

One of the primary benefits of being involved with the Council is that we provide an arena to network with like minded individuals through our Committees. This structure provides a unique opportunity to work together to help develop infrastructure, resolve related issues, exchange ideas, to build and capitalize on the sharing of resources. Currently, there are a few open positions on our committees.

Committees of the American Biofuels Council:

• Scholarship Fundraising and Candidate selection
• Development
• Policy/ Legislative
• Science Advisory Board

Please contact us if you are interested in serving on one of our Committees or know someone worthy of nomination. We will get back with you as soon as possible.

Alliance Partners

The Council welcomes strategic partnerships and maintains affiliations with organizations that understand the advantages of working in a collaborative fashion.

A few of our partners:

• Advanced Biofuels Association
• Algal Biomass Organization
• Biowa
• Clean Fuels Development Coalition
  
• Florida Biofuels Association
  
• International Biofuels Commission
• National Hydrogen Association
• New Fuels Alliance
  
• Northeast Biofuels Collaborative
• Northwest Biofuels Association