For Immediate Release
January 19, 2009 

Media Contact: Brent Bailey
(601)573-4815
BBailey@25x25.org

Louisiana Stakeholders Set Roundtable to Discuss State's Renewable Energy Future 

Agricultural stakeholders, project developers and government leaders will gather in New Orleans Thursday, Jan. 22, to discuss a new energy future for Louisiana. The Louisiana 25x’25 Renewable Energy Roundtable Forum will focus on the opportunities, challenges and impacts associated with the use of energy crops, agricultural residues and other clean technologies in the production of energy for electricity, transportation fuels and other renewable energy applications in the state. Hosted by a coalition of state agriculture, forestry, agency, environmental, academia and clean energy interests, the roundtable is scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel (555 Canal St.) in New Orleans. 

The Louisiana State 25x'25 Alliance, which was formed in 2006, is staging the roundtable as part of its mission to foster increased renewable energy production in the state, bringing agriculture, forestry and renewable energy champions together to collaborate and reach consensus on land-based renewable energy issues and to channel that support to state and national initiatives. The coalition takes advantage of each State Alliance partner’s knowledge and leadership capabilities to transmit ideas for a new energy future to state and national decision-makers. 

The Roundtable is being held in conjunction with a meeting of the National 25x'25 Steering Committee, the leadership of a coalition of nearly 800 farm, forestry, business, environmental, and energy organizations that calls on America's farms, ranches and forestlands to meet 25 percent of our nation's energy needs with renewable resources – biofuels, biomass, wind energy, solar power, geothermal energy, hydropower – by the year 2025, while continuing to produce a safe , abundant and affordable supply of food, feed and fiber. The 25x’25 Vision was adopted by Congress as a national goal under the Energy Security and Independence Act of 2007. To date, 30 governors and former governors, and 14 state legislatures have endorsed the 25x'25 Vision. 

In addition to building public support for renewable energy and expressing support for enhancing university research enterprises, the Louisiana 25x’25 State Alliance has provided a forum for renewable energy advocates, renewable energy producers, and energy regulators to discuss the challenges and barriers to enhancing renewable energy production and use by consumers in the state. The State Alliance has also analyzed and offered suggestions to improving policy and legislative proposals aimed at increasing biofuels production and use, promoting renewable electricity production and use, and implementing energy efficiency measures. 

Jackie Theriot, a sugar producer and Secretary-Treasurer of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, chairs the State Alliance. 

WHAT: Louisiana 25x’25 Renewable Energy Roundtable Forum
WHEN: 1:30-5:30 p.m. January 22, 2009
WHERE: Marriott Hotel – 555 Canal Street
WHO: Louisiana 25x’25 State Alliance, Renewable energy stakeholders, project developers and government leaders 

Forum Purpose:  To establish a dialogue with and among stakeholders on the opportunities, challenges, and impacts associated with the use of forest and agricultural biomass and other clean technologies in the production of energy for electricity, transportation fuels, and other renewable energy applications. 

1:30 pm           Welcome and opening remarks

- Jackie Theriot, Louisiana 25x’25 State Alliance Chair 

1:40 pm           Louisiana Agriculture’s Role in Renewable Energy

- Mike Strain, Commissioner, Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry 

1:55 pm           City of New Orleans’ Greenola Roadmap

- John McGowin, Energy Manager, City of New Orleans 

2:10 pm           25x’25 Overview and Update

                        - Read Smith, 25x’25 Steering Committee Co-Chair 

2:25 pm           University Research Initiatives in Louisiana

                        - Dr. Dan Thomas, LSU Agricultural Center – Dept. of Bio and Ag Engineering

                        - Dr. Giovanna A. DeQueiroz, LSU Agricultural Center – Audubon Sugar Institute

                        - Dr. Mark Zappi, University of Louisiana-Lafayette                       

3:15 pm           Break 

3:35 pm           Louisiana Renewable Energy Panel – Exploring the challenges and opportunities in the production of energy for electricity, transportation fuels, and other renewable energy.

Jackie Theriot, Moderator

- Tom Spies, Agrilectric

- John Howe, Verenium

- Darrel Dubroc, Consolidated Energy Holdings, LLC

- Jeff Bigger, Syntroleum/Dynamic Fuels, LLC

- Roddy Hulett, Louisiana Green Fuels

- Dan Duplantis, Jr. & Neville Dolan, Raceland Raw Sugars

- Stephen Shelton, Louisiana CleanTech Network 

5:20 pm           Summary of Discussions, Closing Remarks and evening activities instructions

                        - Read Smith, 25x’25 Steering Committee Co-Chair

                        - Jackie Theriot, Louisiana 25x’25 State Alliance Chair 

5:30 pm           Networking Reception - Hosted by Louisiana CleanTech Network and ndVerenium 

State and national 25x’25 leaders will also take a tour of renewable energy and energy efficiency sites in near the New Orleans area on Friday, Jan. 23.  The tour will highlight home energy efficiency technologies, investigate new biomass feedstocks that can be utilized for the production of transportation fuels and renewable electricity, and view a sugar processor with plans to construct a biorefinery for the purpose of creating value-added products, such as renewable electricity and ethanol, from agricultural residues. 

WHAT: Louisiana 25x’25 Renewable Energy Tour
WHEN: 7:30-4:00 p.m. January 22, 2009
WHO: Louisiana 25x’25 State Alliance, Renewable energy stakeholders, project developers and government leaders 

7:30 am            Depart from Marriott Hotel by bus; drive by project sites

                        New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 

8:30 am            Alliance for Affordable Energy – BuildSmart Resource Center

                        1001 South Broad Street, Suite 123, New Orleans, 70125 

9:00 am            Depart location  

10:30 am          Arrive at USDA-ARS Research Station – Houma, LA

                        Sugarcane Research Unit, 5883 USDA Road, Houma, LA  70360 

12 noon            Lunch hosted on-site by USDA-ARS and American Sugar Cane League 

1:00 pm            Depart location 

1:20 pm            Arrive at Raceland Raw Sugars – Raceland, LA

                        Raceland Raw Sugar Corp., Hwy. 182 and Mill Street, Raceland, LA 70394 

2:30 pm            Depart location 

3:30 pm            Arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for passenger dropoff

                        900 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA  70062