Maryland Biofuels Task Force -

GWRCCC/Maryland Biofuels Task Force to Hold Press Conference on Landmark Report

The Maryland Biofuels Task Force, convened by the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC), will hold a Press Conference to release the findings of the Maryland Biofuels Task Force Report, “Maryland Biofuels Task Force Report: Assessing the Challenges, Costs, Benefits, Risks, and Feasibility of Utilizing Higher Blends of Biofuels to Help Decarbonize Maryland’s Transportation Sector” on Monday, December 15, 2025, at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library at 1410 West St, Annapolis, MD.
The press release is available here and our leadership briefing is available here.

Download the report below

Maryland Biofuels Task Force Report

Maryland Biofuels Task Force holds kickoff meeting

Photo (Right to Left): Antoine Thompson, Executive Director, GWRCCC, Jill Hamilton, President, Sustainable Energy Strategies, Inc. (GWRCCC Board Chair), Burl Haigwood, SESI/GWRCCC/Task Force Coordinator. Luis MacDonald, President, Autoflex Fleet, (GWRCCC Board Member).

Many thanks to Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks for kicking off the Maryland Biofuels Task Force (MDBTF) meetings on June 23rd in Annapolis, MD.

The MDBTF is a diverse coalition of 37 organizations, companies, agencies, and advocacy groups united by a shared interest in clean energy, climate solutions, agricultural development, and low-carbon fuels. The task force’s role is to assess the challenges, costs, benefits, risks, and feasibility of utilizing higher blends of biofuels to help decarbonize Maryland’s transportation sector and support the goals of the Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA) of 2022

Maryland Biofuels Task Force Overview

Who

The Maryland Biofuels Task Force (MDBTF) Organizing Committee includes stakeholders from industry and nongovernmental organizations with expertise in alternative fuel production and use, environmental and energy policy, vehicle technology, fuel distribution, and agriculture.

What

Assess the challenges, costs, benefits, risks, and feasibility of utilizing higher blends of biofuels to help decarbonize Maryland’s transportation and home heating oil sectors.

When

April 23, 2025, to November 23, 2025

Where

Five virtual meetings. Email your request for a registration link using the contact information below.

Why

Maryland’s 2022 Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA) mandates a 60% carbon reduction by 2031 and net-zero emissions by 2045. Reducing 646 million metric tons of CO2e could yield a societal benefit of $135 billion. Maryland’s Climate Pollution Plan states, “Additional policies are therefore needed to meet the state target.”

Economic Security

Maryland faces a projected $3 billion budget deficit, necessitating economic growth strategies. Will biofuels contribute to Maryland’s agriculture sector, the largest commercial industry in the state, which contributes $8.25 billion to the economy and employs 350,000 people?

Energy Security

Maryland lacks local energy production, relying heavily on imports, which poses risks to
energy security.
Can increasing biofuel use improve Maryland’s energy security, supply, and resiliency
while protecting against foreign oil market manipulations and possible tariffs?

Why Not

The Task Force will identify the challenges, barriers, and information gaps preventing Maryland from achieving economic, energy, and environmental security objectives: Public education, consumer perception, technological, political/policy, budget, economic, and social strategies.
The Task Force will identify opportunities and make recommendations to overcome the challenges, barriers, and information gaps. These recommendations will be science- based, actionable, measurable, practical, achievable, and will consider Maryland’s unique needs and resources.

Accompanying Material

Maryland Biofuels Task Force Press Release
Maryland Biofuels Task Force Organizing Committee Stakeholder Engagement Survey:
Maryland Biofuels Task Force Organizing Committee Stakeholder Engagement Survey: PDF Reference Materials

Maryland Biofuels Task Force Organizing Committee

Host Organization
Antoine Thompson, Executive Director, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition
Burl Haigwood, Task Force Coordinator, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Task Force Members

Name	Title	Agency
Joanne Ivancic	Executive Director	Advanced Biofuels USA
Emir Dogdibegovic	Founder	Alchemity
Raj Kathuria	CEO	Biorefineries International
Bobby Parlett	Sales Manager	Burch Oil & Burch Propane
Kate Shenk	Director of Regulatory Affairs	Clean Fuels Alliance America
Paul Winters	Director, Public Affairs, Federal	Clean Fuels Alliance America
Stephen Dodge	Director, Northeastern States	Clean Fuels Alliance America
David Cobb	Director of Federal Affairs	Clean Fuels Alliance America
Doug Durante	Executive Director	Clean Fuels Alliance America
Glenn Robinson	Customer Relations	Dixie Land Energy, LLC
Daniel Bresette	President	Environmental & Energy Study Institute
Terry Ruse	President	Ethanol Project Developer
James Dion	President	Everged
Thereza Cevidanes	Director, Government Affairs	Americans For Affordable Energy
Logan McSherry	Project Manager	Frederick County, Division of Energy and Environment
Kenya Langford	CEO/Founder	GeaVance Energi Solutions
Lindsay Fitzgerald	Chief Advocacy and Communications Officer	Gevo
John Mosheim	President	GHG Engineering, LLC
Antoine Thompson	Director	Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition
Burl Haigwood	Task Force Coordinator	Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition/Sustainable Energy Strategies Inc.
Jonathan Phillips		Groundwork Elizabeth
Emily Marthaler	Director of Global Policy	Growth Energy
Robin Vercruse	Executive Director	Low Carbon Fuels Coalition
Don Schinske	Operations Manager	Low Carbon Fuels Coalition
Anne Steckel	Director, Government Affairs	Renewable Natural Gas Coallition
Katherine Magruder	Executive Director	Maryland Clean Energy Center
Maya Ross	Wood Energy Coordinator	Maryland Clean Energy Center
Pamela Powers	Director of Government & Industry Relations	Maryland Clean Energy Center
Steve Connelly	Deputy Secretary	Maryland Department of Agriculture
Chris Hoagland	Director of Air and Radiation, Climate Change Division	Maryland Department of the Environment
Mark Stewart	Manager, Climate Change Program	Maryland Department of the Environment
Natalie Buscemi	Maryland Clean Cities and Communities Coalition Director	Maryland Energy Administration
Lindsay Thompson	Executive Director	Maryland Grain Producers and Utilization Board
Danielle Farace	Executive Director	Maryland Soybean Producers Board
Mary Stewart	Farmer/MD Soybean Representative	Maryland Soybean Producers Board
Cynthia Maves	Director	Ohio Clean Fuels
Madison Corbi	Manager, Demand and Market Development	Ohio Soybean Board
Colin Huwyler	CEO	Optimus
Karl Thomas		Optimus Technology
Ed Hubbard	General Counsel and VP of Government Affairs	Renewable Fuels Association
Chander Jayaraman	President	SEDC, LLC
Jill Hamilton	President	Sustainable Energy Strategies Inc.
Maureen Kinyua	Founder	Usafi Technologies LLC
Alleyn Harned	Director	Virginia Clean Cities Coalition
Russell Presnell	Clean Cities Coordinator	Virginia Clean Cities Coalition