On the move in the Bioeconomy:  Aries Clean Energy, AFPM

In Tennessee, Aries Clean Energy tapped Ben Gardner as vice president of engineering and will direct all efforts in design, construction, and operations, as well as the company’s ongoing research and development programs. Aries is a privately held company focusing on renewable, distributed energy generation using alternative feedstocks. “Ben’s experience in taking companies from early stages of development all the way through to commercialization will be invaluable to executive management and to our engineering teams,” Aries CEO Greg Bafalis said. “His previous work with fluidized bed gasification is especially important to us, and Ben brings a waste conversion and green energy knowledge base that is rare to find even in a global marketplace.”

Meanwhile in Washington, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers appointed Derrick Morgan as senior vice president, federal and regulatory affairs. In this role, he will oversee the government relations, regulatory affairs, and petrochemical departments. Morgan comes to AFPM from the office of Senator Ben Sasse, where he served as chief of staff. He previously held several positions at the Heritage Foundation including vice president for the Institute of Economic Freedom and Opportunity, where he managed a research division, and as the chief of staff to the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Ed Feulner. He also previously served as a policy analyst and counsel to the U.S. Republican Policy Committee under Senator John Thune, providing analysis to all Republican senators on energy, environment, labor, and agriculture bills, amendments, and policy.