Jim Lane, editor of Biofuels Digest, said:

“The editorial board recognized the outstanding work of Don Endres, who led the industry throughout the year in pushing for adoption of E85, warning about financing difficulties, closing down planned expansions when margins were tight, and pushing through a major merger with US BioEnergy. He was rewarded by the market with the strongest performance of any Biofuels Digest Indexâ„¢ pure play stock, and we tip our hat to a daring “playmaker” who got the job done.

“We also recognize Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who visited more countries to promote biofuels at the highest level than any other person in 2007. The President worked tirelessly for fair trade in biofuels as well as technology exchanges and transfers. His efforts were not rewarded with immediate export success, but we hail him for raising global awareness of the economic benefits of biofuels, overseeing policy for a fast growing industry, making Brazil self-sufficient in energy, and for staunchly defending biofuels against a well-funded jihad against the industry.”

“For George W. Bush, there were a few demerits at the end of the year for threatening to veto the Energy Bill, but he began the year with a call for a 35 million gallon per year biofuels mandate, and ended up with 36 million. President Bush established a goal, and managed to bend just enough Republicans and Democrats to his will to get the Renewable Fuel Standard he desired, and avoid the Renewable Power Standard he abhorred.

“Elliott Mannis at D1 Oils has been a pioneer in African biofuels development all year, and perhaps the strongest proponent of jatropha getting things done on a commercial basis.

“Vinod Khosla was active in investments such as Cilion and Gevo, but also was highly active in philanthropic endeavors related to India and fuel security.

“Bob Dineen at the RFA was an invaluable industry leader helping to see the ethanol mandate safely through from proposal to law.

“Jeff Broin quietly put Poet into the leadership position as the biggest producer of biofuels in the world.

“Al Gore continued to raise awareness of climate change and the role that biofuels can play in reducing the greenhouse gas effect.

“Chris Somerville put together the largest research deal ever done — over $600 million from BP as the US Department of Energy, and is poised to take biofuels research to the next level.

“Ban Ki-moon was instrumental in setting 2009 as the year when a climate change treaty to succeed the Kyoto Treaty must be signed, and keeping fractious nations from ripping apart the 13th UN Conference on Climate Change in Bali.”

“In all, there were 23 nominees and several write-in candidates, and each one of them deserves great credit for their leadership in a critical year for biofuels. Congratulations, nominees and winners!”

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