Clean Fuels announces membership growth, changes in governing board

Clean Fuels Alliance America announced May 8 an uptick in membership reflecting growing interest in low-carbon liquid fuels, in addition to recent changes within its governing board.

The Clean Fuels governing board appointed Courtney Lawrenson, vice president of oils and energy at AGP, as second vice-chair succeeding Gary Louis, who recently retired from his role with Seaboard Energy.

Lawrenson brings a wealth of expertise as second vice-chair with over a decade of experience in the clean-fuels industry, serving as a board member since 2022.

Clean Fuels praised Louis for his years of service to the industry during his tenure as president and CEO of Seaboard Energy and wished him well in his retirement.

Peter Ostenfeld-Rosenthal, incoming president and CEO at Seaboard Energy, joined Clean Fuels’ governing board as a new member filling a void left by Louis’ retirement.

Following an impressive career as an oil-and-gas executive, Ostenfeld-Rosenthal most recently served as vice president of operations at Seaboard, where he led a renewable diesel refinery and two biodiesel plants, among other organizational assets.

His dedication to building a framework that supports operational excellence will aid in the success of Clean Fuels as the association continues toward its vision of reaching 6 billion gallons by 2030.

Additionally, Kerry Fogarty, quality-control manager at Incobrasa Industries Ltd., joined the board filling a vacancy left by Danielle Brannen’s resignation.

With over 25 years of experience in the soybean-crushing industry, Fogarty’s extensive industry knowledge and commitment to biodiesel quality will undoubtedly contribute to the organization’s strategic direction and efforts to promote the use of clean fuels.

“We are thrilled to have Courtney step into the role of second vice-chair and welcome Peter and Kerry to our esteemed governing board,” said Donnell Rehagen, the CEO of Clean Fuels. “Their leadership and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to advance the interests of biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.”

In the past eight months, Clean Fuels has also welcomed several new members who share a commitment to sustainable industry growth. These include:

• Alliance Technical Group: With more than 1,400 specialists located in 40-plus offices nationwide, Alliance provides premier technical solutions to support the full spectrum of its customers’ environmental needs.

• North Carolina Soybean Producers Association: The qualified state soybean board to administer soybean checkoff-funded programs in North Carolina.

• Nuseed: A global leader in the development and commercialization of sustainable oilseed crops for renewable fuels.

• PepsiCo: A multinational food and beverage corporation committed to reducing its carbon footprint through sustainable-fuel initiatives.

• RenStar LLC: An innovative company specializing in renewable energy solutions, including biodiesel and renewable diesel.

• Richard: An industry leader in the engineering, design and construction of the largest renewable diesel projects in the U.S. to date.

• Westmor Industries: A renowned manufacturer of equipment for the storage, transportation and distribution of renewable fuels.

• WayTrade: A forward-thinking logistics company dedicated to maximizing the distribution of renewable fuels.

These new members join Clean Fuels at a pivotal time for the industry, as companies continue to search for cleaner alternatives to traditional fossil fuels to decarbonize heavy-duty transportation sectors.

“We are witnessing unprecedented growth driven by increasing awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of our fuels,” Rehagen said. “Our governing board and our members play a vital role in advocating for policies that support this growth and drive innovation in clean-fuel technologies.”

For more information about Clean Fuels Alliance America and its initiatives, click here.