BUSINESS OF BIOGAS
OCTOBER 10-12, 2023 | ST. LOUIS, MO
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ABOUT
BUSINESS OF
BIOGAS
BUSINESS OF BIOGAS is the new Fall conference from the American Biogas Council for biogas project developers and investors who want to network and learn how to design projects to maximize biogas production and profitability. Through multiple education sessions, receptions, and dedicated networking time at the Four Seasons St. Louis, you’ll be with the people who get things done in the biogas industry and position your company to build better performing biogas systems.
CONFERENCE
October 10-12, 2023 | The newest event by the American Biogas Council for biogas project developers and investors who want to network and learn how to design projects to maximize biogas production and profitability
VENUE
Four Seasons Hotel | St. Louis, MO
999 North Second Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
Deadline to book extended to September 18!
SPONSOR
Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Please email bailey@americanbiogascouncil.org with any questions.
NETWORKING EVENTS
On Wednesday afternoon, after a morning of educational sessions, attend one of our Wednesday afternoon breakout networking options, or set individual meetings of your own. In addition to our Hospitality Suites (included in your conference ticket), choose from connecting under the iconic Gateway Arch which places you in the heart of history, chatting over a beer on an Anheuser-Busch brewery tour, or taking a swing at the Top Golf Suite which blends relationship building and interactive entertainment. Spaces are limited – reserve your spot now.
Program Schedule
Program Sessions
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Developer Boot Camp
- Bulletproofing your Business Plan and Revenue Strategies
Veteran developers say the business plans from green developers are often too aspirational, leading to inferior performance and sometimes project failures. Learn the most common parts of a project where actual performance diverges from the original business plan to start with a plan that’s realistic and financeable.
- Project Execution: Timelines/Stage Gates
Project execution has many pieces. And successful execution requires those pieces to be well-coordinated. Which parts need to happen in series or parallel? What parts commonly take longer than expected, and how should the developer account for those potential changes from the beginning? Learn from the lessons our veteran developers have already learned to help your next project execution go more smoothly.
- Permitting Digester and Landfill Projects
Besides the lack of knowledge about biogas systems, most developers list permitting issues as a Top 3 challenge to developing new biogas systems. We’re not going to wave a wand to magically make all permitting officials understand biogas systems, but we can help you prepare as a developer to plan for the time it will take and how to make drawing permits as smooth as possible.
- Dance of the Developers: Coordinating Contracts and Offtake Agreements with your Financier
It’s common for green developers to look at each contract in a vacuum. In contrast, from your lender’s or project equity financier’s perspective, they’re intertwined. Financing won’t happen unless your bank feels the agreements work for them and the project. Learn now how to avoid rude surprises, and what changes lenders are likely to demand.
Speakers
Bernie Sheff, USRED
Craig Frear, Regenis
Bryan Sievers, Sievers Family Farms and Horizon II
John Dannan, Generate Capital
Scott Martin, Burns & McDonnell
Today’s Financing Toolkit
As new investors and tools become available to the biogas industry, financing strategies also change. This session will break down the variety of financing options most used and even touch on some of the less common ones.
Speakers
Mike Land, Virentis Advisors (Moderator)
Jon Ellis, Pathward
Jim Lavelle, USRED
Rashi Akki, Ag-Grid Energy
Doug Lamb, McGuireWoods
Monetizing Biogas and RNG Policy & Tax Credits
Between new regulations from CARB, the final RFS Set Rule, and new Treasury guidance on the IRA tax credits, are you up to speed on how to best use all these tools for your next biogas projects? Our speakers will help you get dialed in and point you to where you can dive deeper for your specific project.
Speakers
Ivor Castelino, Bloom Energy (Moderator)
Dawn Rhea, Weaver
Pat Foody, iogen
Kevin Johnson, Vision RNG
Gov Siegel, Nacelle Solutions
Mergers, Acquisitions & Attracting Investors: Preparing to buy and sell
What do I need to position my company for purchase? On the other side, how are projects rated by buyers? M&A activity has really increased in the biogas industry recently and there’s much to learn from those who have brokered or signed deals.
Speakers
Aidin Sadr, BMO Capital Markets (Moderator)
Todd Taylor, Avisen Legal
Matt Newsom, Smithfield Foods
Grant Zimmerman, AMP Americas
John McKinney, Sevana BioEnergy
Developing the Harder Projects
Learning how to develop the harder projects might give you a leg up for your business and help you access new opportunities avoided by others. How have others been successful with: small projects, access issues for power and gas interconnection, tough partners, community opposition, handling food waste, and more?
Speakers
Jessica Niekrasz, SMART Policy Group (Moderator)
Sean Gleeson, REV LNG
Clarke Pauley, Independent RNG Project Development Innovator
Rashi Akki, Ag-Grid Energy
Don Chahbazpour, National Grid
Kraig Westerbeek, Monarch Bioenergy
Compliance: New regulatory issues
PFAS, microplastics, groundwater sensitivities, pharmaceuticals, ammonia emissions, biogas reform…these are all things that could impact your next biogas project. Our speakers will cover what regulations we’re already managing and what’s coming down the road, so you can be prepared.
Speakers
Heather Dziedzic, American Biogas Council (Moderator)
Sheila Kraft, Revere
Michael Bell, Weaver
Shannon Baucom, MESKA Solutions
Emerging Markets, Non-Methane Revenue & Exports
What’s on your list of emerging markets that might influence your project’s business plan? How about CO2, renewable diesel, methanol, hydrogen…? Come hear from some folks who have made some of these projects work or at least come close enough to teach you a thing or two to help you get closer to new revenue streams.
Speakers
Rory Deledda, Air Products Membrane Solutions (Moderator)
Jeffrey Wright, Oberon Fuels
Doug Dagan, Suburban Propane
Faizal Hassan, Anew Climate
Justin Egan, Enbridge
Title Sponsor
Elite Sponsor
Rooftop Mixer Partner