Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Tex Carter

Then:  In July 2007, I was working with Washington Group International, and was heavily involved in the early engineering and planning of ethanol facilities in the Midwest for E85, as well as involved in early discussions of cellulosic syngas-to-bioethanol facilities using biomass and MSW as feedstocks.  Along with my more mainstream work developing refining and petrochemical projects.

Now: Today, I am working with the team at Velocys in the development of projects we will own and operate that are based on the use of our technology and equipment to convert biomass to fuels and products.

Inspirations: Throughout my life, I have been a part of an industry that makes the world a better place through the creation of jobs in construction and manufacturing.  I have been part of teams that were developing the facilities that add energy and products to make people’s lives better.  Kay and I have lived around the world, moving together 36 times, and have been able to make a difference by providing skills and resources developed in the regular economy to help accelerate the bioeconomy to solving major problems in creating a sustainable and improving future. Invention and development of sustainable technologies, scaling them up, and alignment of the regulators, the sources of development and delivery capital, all towards the overall goal of a growing renewable bioeconomy — there are multiple challenges.

Challenges:  But most all the problems have solutions that good people can create, so perhaps the biggest challenge is ensuring that we continue to attract and reward good people for their creative performance of what is required to overcome the challenges.”