The Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA) - Strategic Biomass Solutions will hold a Renewable Energy Venture Development pre-conference workshop, August 8th from 1-5 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Conference in Tifton, GA.


MTA uses VentureCapitalTools®, to assist entrepreneurs in understanding the requirements of an investor-ready deal. Attendees will learn how to use these tools and methodologies to screen, develop, or coach innovation-based ventures. Additionally, several specialized tools for venture risk assessment of project areas--execution, product, market, management and finance-will be discussed which will help you (whether you are an entrepreneur, investor or economic developer), determine promising opportunities from those not-ready-for-primetime.

MTA instructors, Sumesh Arora and Joseph Linton, will introduce and describe the tools which include analysis of the technical, market, & financial validation of a deal from the pure idea stage to a mature venture. Additionally, attendees will be exposed to the Butterfly Model© of inter-organizational collaboration which provides a multi-stakeholder framework to deploy successful renewable energy and emerging technology projects.

A $50 registration fee covers the cost of course materials and 6-months of post-workshop instructor consultation.

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kenny Wallace and co-host of NASCARS’ Race Day and Victory Lane television programs, will keynote the 2011 Southeast Bioenergy Conference to be held at the UGA Tifton Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia August 9-11, 2011.



Wallace, who drives the No. 09 American Ethanol Toyota Camry, featuring a black and green paint scheme, is currently ranked #7 in the Nationwide Series. In May, Wallace completed his 500th Nationwide start, bringing his career stats to nine wins, ten poles and nine seasons in the top ten driver points and recipient of the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award three times.

NASCAR announced earlier this year it will race with E15 fuel in its three national touring series in 2011, using Sunoco Green E15, a 15-percent ethanol blend using American-made ethanol from corn grown by American farmers. “With Sunoco Green E15, we are leading by example, showing that this renewable fuel -- which reduces greenhouse gas emissions -- works in the most demanding racing environment in the world,” said Dr. Mike Lynch, managing director for Green Innovation for NASCAR.

Wallace has spent time on the farms and in the ethanol plants learning how ethanol is good for creating jobs in America, and looks forward to giving his views on E15 at the SE Bioenergy Conference. Wallace will open the conference August 9th at 8:30 a.m.

Distinguished leaders from around the world will kick off the 6th Annual Southeast Bioenergy Conference scheduled for August 9, 2011, in Tifton, GA. From biofuels to bio products to renewable energy and energy efficiency, attendees will walk away with a global overview of the current demand, growth potential, driving forces, economic impact, and latest innovations in this growing market.

Pictured from left to right are Dr. Shi-­Zong Li of Tsinghua University, Christiane Egger of Upper Austrian Renewable Energy Agency, Hagan Rose of Eco-­Energy, Inc., and Leticia Phillips of UNICA.

This session is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9. Check the agenda for details of other sessions.

Innovative research, financial support, regulatory oversight, and long-term renewable fuels contracts all come from U.S. government agencies. How are these agencies working together and with the commercial sector to make it happen?

The speakers listed below will tell you how during their August 10th general session panel discussion. A brief description of their federal role and experience follows:

Paul Argyropoulos is a Senior Policy Advisor in the EPA Office of Transportation & Air Quality. He is responsible for providing advice and analysis to the Office Director on transportation program issues with a focus on fuels. He chaired the EPA intra-agency work group for the national renewable fuels standard programs implemented under both the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Michael McAdams, President of the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), will kick-off the second day of general session speakers (Aug. 10) for the 2011 Southeast Bioenergy Conference discussing Building Cooperation & Coalitions.

Mr. McAdams is a leading voice for the advanced biofuels industry. Under McAdams’s leadership, the ABFA has grown to become an active partner with leaders in Washington as they work to transform our nation’s energy policy with long-term and renewable solutions that will create jobs and strengthen our energy security. Biofuels Digest recently named him one of the top 25 people worth knowing in bioenergy.