Maine is at the cutting edge of an emerging bio-based economy with the capacity to produce plastics, chemicals, and fuels from wood chips and agricultural waste rather than petroleum. The forum will highlight the first step of realizing this potential: an innovative process and technology at Old Town Fuel and Fiber Company, a former paper mill now being used for high-tech manufacture of cellulosic sugars, nature’s chemical building blocks. Old Town Fuel and Fiber is getting ready to break ground on their large demo plant, which will make them first to market with cellulosic sugars from wood. Forum attendees will get a tour of the plant to see some of the technology first-hand.
Agenda
9:30 Registration, coffee and pastries
10:00 Opening remarks
10:15 Opening keynote, Corinne Young, re:chem
10:15 Morning Break
10:45 Innovation and Technology in Maine Bioplastics, Hemant Pendse, University of Maine
11:30 Economic Growth Potential for Maine
12:15 Lunch
1:30 Tours of Technology Research Center and Old Town Pulp and Paper
3:00-4:00: Networking Reception
About our Keynote Speaker, Corrine Young, Chief Advocate, re:chem
With over 20 years of policy leadership, CEO Corinne Younghas secured government incentives ranging from over a billion dollars to under one million for her clients or constituents. As a longtime and fierce advocate for renewable chemicals, she currently serves as the Chief Advocate for re:chem, advancing bipartisan production tax credits and 2013 Farm Bill loan guarantee proposals pending before Congress. She worked on legislation for seminal bioindustry programs during her ten years on Capitol Hill and, more recently, with policymakers to expand support in the EPA 2005, EISA 2007, Farm Bill 2008, and the ARRA 2009. She has secured precedent-setting incentives to de-risk and accelerate deployment, including historic grants, tax exempt bonds, and Presidential EPA Green Chemistry Awards. She is a seasoned spokesperson, regularly speaking at industry conferences and serving on multiple working groups, spearheading winning coalitions, issue-based campaigns, and crisis management. She is the Co-Chair of the MassBio GreenBiotech Task Force and Advisory Board to UMass TIMBR.
Register at http://mainebioplastics.org/news/register-now-annual-plants-to-products-forum-growing-biobased-manufacturing-jobs-in-rural-maine for what will be an exciting and educational day – with the opportunity to tour both the Technology Research Center as well as Old Town Fuel and Fiber!
Would you like to showcase your organization to conference attendees? Why not exhibit? Exhibiting costs $250. If you’re interested in purchasing a table, please contact Merritt Carey, events coordinator at events@mainebioplastics.org.