Washington DC Energy & Environmental Funders

Hosting Sponsor:
Andrews Kurth LLP

The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc., will sponsor its next Washington, DC Energy & Environmental Funders’ meeting on Friday September 5, 2008.

Concern about high fuel prices and oil supply reliability is expanding the need to develop ample liquid fuel alternatives. Production of corn ethanol and biodiesel made from soybeans are expanding rapidly, but rising agricultural commodity prices and the perceived competition with food crops has raised questions about our future reliance on these fuels.

Second generation ethanol (using cellulosic feedstocks) and biodiesel technologies are under development. One biodiesel feedstock of particular interest-but not entirely new-is algae. The Department of Energy had an active R&D program-Aquatic Species Program (ASP)-from 1978 thru 1996, when it was terminated due to budget cuts. Today, there are more than 20 companies-ranging from entrepreneurs to multi-national oil companies-involved in various aspects of producing and converting algae to liquid transportation fuels.

StarEnergyCo, Inc. is one of those companies, but with some unique twists. StarEnergyCo is not involved in fundamental R&D or developing a proprietary technology or algae strain. Instead, it is focused on 1) how to integrate the best commercially available technologies into an economic system, and 2) a "go-to-market" strategy that addresses both our liquid fuel and air emissions problems.

The StarEnergyCo approach to producing biodiesel (green diesel) is based on its Advanced Algae Conversion System (AACS), which combines the science of fast-growing algae with advanced refinery technology in an integrated, scalable system that is not geographically limited. The StarEnergyCo business strategy is to develop AACS plants with customers/partners that emit CO2 emissions (e.g., power plants, industrial facilities, ethanol fermentation), which correspond to AACS module economics. By co-locating AACS units with CO2 sources, dispersed biodiesel (green diesel) production can be linked to the current distribution network of liquid transportation fuels, while reducing or eliminating CO2 emissions at their source, thereby eliminating the need for costly CO2 capture, concentration and transport. After the algae is grown in a bioreactor and processed for its oil, it can be refined into biodiesel on-site or shipped to a larger oil processing facility. After the vegetable oil is extracted, the remaining algae can be used for cattle feed, fertilizer or a biomass combustion fuel. StarEnergyCo has agreements (or contracts) with several technology vendors for its AACS configuration. StarEnergyCo is in discussions to develop pilot plants in collaboration with universities (who have federal/state funding to develop algae systems) and CO2 hosts in Louisiana, Mississippi and several Midwestern States. Round 1 funding of $5 million is being sought to 1) purchase/test a bioreactor, 2) assemble/test an integrated AACS demonstration plant, and 3) perform related business development activities.

Ken Salyards, President of StarEnergyCo, Inc., will discuss the advantages of algae-to-energy systems to address our liquid fuel challenges, and how the StarEnergyCo strategy will accelerate deployment of such systems while addressing other energy and environmental issues.

Sector Expert: Jeffrey Eppink, Present, Enegis, LLC, an energy consulting firm, will provide a wider perspective on various efforts to develop algae as a biofuel.

Date: Friday, September 5, 2008
Time: 8:00 – 10:00 am
Place: Andrews Kurth LLP
1350 I Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
202-662-2700

Nearest Metro stop: The building is between 13th and 14th Street. You can exit at McPherson Square and cross the street to the building or exit Metro Center on 13th Street (and G Street) and walk up to 13th and I, where you make a left and cross the street.

Cost: $50 if you pre-register.
Cash or checks (payable to CEEP) accepted. Must register or cancel by 4pm the previous day. No shows will be invoiced.
$60 if you pay at the door.
See below for Annual Registration opportunities and other important conditions.

Agenda:
8:00 to 8:20 – Networking with Members
8:30 to 9:00 – Presentation by Ken Salyards, President of StarEnergyCo, Inc.
9:00 to 9:30 – Presentation by Sector Expert: Jeffrey Eppink, Present, Enegis, LLC
9:30 to 10:00 – Discussion and Networking

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the next DC Funders meeting.

If you have any questions about registration or need more information about the program, please contact Gelvin Stevenson at gelvin@optonline.net.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Ken Salyards is the founder and chief strategy architect for StarEnergyCo Inc. Ken has been an independent management consultant for high technology complex projects for the past six years. Prior to that Ken traveled the world implementing highly complex business projects for domestic and international clients. Ken has worked for large high technology companies such as IBM and SHL Systemhouse. Ken led the implementation team for the $270 million Express Track and Trace system for the United States Postal Service. Ken brings a collaborative management style to the organization resulting in high performing management teams. Ken holds a B.S. degree in Finance and Physical Distribution from Towson University in Towson, Maryland.

Jeffrey Eppink is president of the energy consulting firm Enegis, LLC, which he founded in late 2006. Enegis provides analytical consulting on a variety of energy topics including oil and gas, geothermal, coal and biomass. The firm is also involved in development of algae-to-biodiesel and waste-to-energy projects. Mr. Eppink has over 26 years of consulting, technical, and analytical experience in a wide variety of energy projects worldwide. He has given numerous presentations to senior industry executives and high-level government officials. He has provided testimony and presentations to the U.S. Congress and the White House on energy issues. Mr. Eppink specializes in project management and design, economic analyses, energy policy, scenario modeling, technical analysis and resource assessment.

Mr. Eppink has worked for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Chevron Overseas Petroleum, ICF Kaiser and Advanced Resources International and has been an American Association for the Advancement of Science Diplomacy Fellow. He has a B.S. in geology from California State Polytechnic University, an M.S. in geophysics from the University of Southern California and an M.B.A. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Advisory Board
Zachary Alexander, ebT Design, LLC
Bob Lawrence, Bob Lawrence & Associates
Mark Riedy, Andrews Kurth LLC
Ira Rubenstein, Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc.
Gelvin Stevenson, Ph.D., Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc.
Michael Ware, Advance Capital Markets, Inc.

DCE&EF Pricing Policy
1. Cost, with pre-registration up to 4pm the day before the meeting: $50.
2. No-shows will be invoiced.
3. Cancellations allowed until 4pm the day before the meeting.
4. Cost, with registration at the door the day of the meeting: $60.
5. All paid registrants will be emailed any information made available electronically for that meeting.
6. An Annual Registration for DCE&EF can be purchased for $400. It will provide admittance to all regularly scheduled meetings held during a 12-month period.
7. Annual registrants will be emailed any information made available electronically for any of the regularly scheduled meetings covered by their annual registration.

Formed in February 2004, DC Energy & Environmental Funders (DCE&EF) is a joint service of Investors Circle, the Energy & Environmental Capital Network (ECN), the Environmental Business Association of New York State, Inc. (EBA/NYS), Investors Circle and Cleantech Venture Network LLC (Cleantech). DCE&EF provides networking, information, and other services to investors interested in energy and environmental companies. DCE&EF activities are produced by the Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc. (CEEP) in furtherance of its educational mission.

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