Reigniting Growth in 2022
At Growth Energy's 13th Annual Executive Leadership Conference, hundreds of industry
stakeholders networked with producers that not only survived the pandemic, but continue topress forward with the investments needed to fuel a low-carbon future.
By Emily Skor | February 16, 2022
Spring approaching, we have fresh opportunities to reimagine the future of the biofuels
industry and redefine its role in achieving our climate goals. And that’s exactly what we’redoing. In February, Growth Energy hosted its 13th Annual Executive Leadership Conference(ELC), where we were joined by more than 300 industry stakeholders, allies and member
companies from across 31 states. With another wave of teleconferences following our inperson ELC last year, it was exciting to see so many industry leaders gathering together toforge a new path and tackle the challenges ahead.
Among other topics, attendees discussed the importance of using every tool in America’s
toolkit—especially biofuels—to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate our transition to a
net-zero future. With a new administration that deploys carbon as a measuring stick in every
policy decision, we’re in a unique position to reengage with policymakers to show them thatthe investments we’re making in biofuels have the potential to reshape our industry, economy
and transportation sector—and our planet.
The ELC also showcased the remarkable diversity of our industry, with panel discussions
featuring America’s top issue experts on topics like such as tactics for lowering carbon
intensity scores, examining the value proposition of sustainable aviation fuels, and financing
a low carbon future. From corn growers expanding sustainable agriculture to biorefineriesthat have invested in carbon capture, Growth Energy is taking every opportunity to tap intothat expertise and demonstrate our unmatched ability to deliver on a new wave of clean energy
demand—on the ground and in the sky, at home and abroad, and in today’s vehicles andtomorrow’s.
Together, we’re channeling that innovative spirit to advance our industry’s top priorities:
restoring certainty to the renewable fuel standard (RFS), championing biofuels as a low-cost
pathway to achieve our climate goals, and opening new markets to compete in the global, lowcarbon transition.
Near-term, that means fixing and finalizing the recently released Renewable Volume

Obligations (RVOs). The proposal for 2022 was forward-leaning, but we cannot allow theEnvironmental Protection Agency to take its foot off the gas—it needs to set 2021 volumes atthe statutory levels, reject retroactive cuts to the 2020 RVO, and deny all pending SREs.
Mid-term, we know that an EPA “Set” for 2023 and beyond is on the horizon. It’s critical that
regulators embrace strong blending obligations that offer certainty to the farmers andproducers working to deliver clean, homegrown energy to American drivers.
We’re also focused on ensuring that—from infrastructure to trade—policymakers recognize
biofuels as a climate solution—one that is low-carbon, available today, and affordable for all
motorists. Research commissioned by Growth Energy shows that a nationwide transition to ahigher biofuel blend like E15—compatible with 96% of cars on the road today—would savemore than $12 billion in consumer fuel costs annually—all while driving down carbon
emissions by over 17 million tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing nearly 4 million
vehicles from the road.
Climate experts agree that we can’t reach our climate goals without harnessing the power ofbiofuels. It’s a message that Growth Energy members are sharing at home and abroad, where
we’ve continued to expand markets in Canada and the U.K. In 2022, progress will be madeinch by inch. Instead of flashy news conferences, critical trade decisions are being madearound a boardroom table without the cameras and fanfare favored by the previousadministration. Fortunately, the team at Growth Energy has secured a seat at that table,
participating in critical trade discussions and making sure biofuels remain at the forefront of
every conversation.
Ultimately, it’s up to us to show global, national and state leaders what we know—biofuels area critical part of decarbonizing the transportation sector and protecting our climate.
Thankfully, as we saw at this year’s ELC, this industry has a great story to tell. Our producers
not only survived the pandemic, but continue to press forward with the investments needed
to fuel a low-carbon future. And across every one of our priorities, Growth Energy iscommitted to setting our industry up for success in 2022 by making sure policymakers areprepared to fight for that vision.

Author: Emily Skor
CEO, Growth Energy
202.545.4000
eskor@growthenergy.org