2025 PROGRAM
BIOGAS AMERICAS Program Sessions
Tuesday, April 29
9:00-10:30am
Speakers:
Bill Cesar, President, Generate Upcycle
Siva Ariyapadi, Global Business Manager, Bioenergy, ExxonMobil
Sean Wine, VP, Renewables Distribution, Clean Energy
Brad Pleima, President, EcoEngineers
Cecilie Sørensen, Commercial Manager, North America, Ammongas
Patrick Serfass, Executive Director, American Biogas Council
In today’s rapidly shifting political, policy, and energy landscapes, the biogas industry is facing both headwinds and high-potential tailwinds. Are you wondering how other industry leaders are approaching this environment? Are you trying to decipher which of the new market opportunities for biogas has real, near-term potential? Our keynote panel of industry leaders will share how they’re steering their companies through the current uncertainty and then we’ll dive into topics like voluntary offtakes, maritime/IMO, European markets, CO2, methanol, and more.
In addition, ABC’s Executive Director will open the session with the results of a never seen before analysis of the current US biogas market and the potential for the entire industry.
11:30am-12:30pm
Speakers:
Ben Gerber, President & CEO, M-RETS
Benjamin Foster, President & Founder, Fosterra, LLC
Cinch Munson, Business Development Director, World Liquid Gas Association
Léonie Karkoviata, Director, Strategy & Market Development, SJI
Sam Lehr, Executive Vice President of Policy, Molecule Group
Biogas is emerging as a critical feedstock for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, maritime shipping, and long-haul trucking. From sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to renewable ammonia and diesel, new opportunities are opening for biogas producers to monetize their product in the voluntary clean fuel market. Industry experts will explore the recent growth in demand, the policies shaping these markets, and how biogas can support Scope 1 and 3 emissions reductions.
Speakers:
Heather Dziedzic,Vice President, Policy, American Biogas Council
Rod Snyder, Principal, Junction Strategies, LLC
Michael Jensen, Director of Regulatory Affairs, WM
Jessica Bennett, Partner, AJW
Jonathan Hirte, Director of Federal Affairs, DTE Energy
Heather Dziedzic, Vice President, Policy, American Biogas Council
With the first 100 days of the second Trump administration behind us, let’s dive into the energy industry opportunities and uncertainties. This session will explore observed and expected policy shifts, from domestic energy dominance and natural gas incentives to potential changes in tax policy and federal funding, as well as how a small-government approach could impact biogas markets, renewable energy incentives, and regulatory frameworks. With some policies taking shape and others still unclear, this discussion will share what we know now, and what we think lies ahead for the industry.
2:00-3:00pm
Speakers:
Ben Kruger, Senior Vice President, Renewables, Roeslein
Andrew Roorda, Senior Vice President, Macquarie
Morgan Beeler, Policy Analyst, STX
Bill Tyndall, Partner, AJW
With stricter emissions regulations on the horizon, the maritime industry is turning to RNG as a viable compliance solution. Join us for a discussion centered around the growing demand for regulated maritime fuels, while examining policy drivers, market dynamics, and infrastructure challenges. Experts will discuss how RNG fits into the evolving regulatory framework and what you need to know to capitalize on these opportunities.
Speakers:
Joshua Hull, Senior Vice President, Morrow Energy
Matt Taylor, Director, Business Development, LoCI Control
Corina Sheridan, Project Development Director, Waga Energy
Behrang Nejad, PhD., Manager, Application Engineering, Sysadvance
Amir Ghasdi, RNG Lead, GHD
Landfill gas-to-RNG projects face unique challenges related to managing nitrogen and oxygen levels—critical factors that can impact gas quality, project viability, and overall system performance. In this technical session, industry experts will share practical strategies for managing N₂ and O₂ contamination both at the landfill collection system level and within the RNG upgrading facility. Building on lessons learned from successful project deployments, this session is essential for landfill gas professionals and RNG developers seeking to optimize operations and navigate gas composition hurdles in real-world scenarios.
4:00-5:00pm
Speakers:
Grant Zimmerman, Director & CEO, AMP Americas
Asher Goldman, Vice President, Generate Capital
Randy Beck, Senior Director, Renewable Energy, WM
Rashi Akki, CEO, Ag-Grid Energy
Ivor Castelino, Managing Director, Bloom Energy
As data center growth drives a projected 25GW surge in electricity demand by 2030, utilities are struggling to keep pace. Biogas offers a scalable, cost-competitive, and secure energy solution that can provide clean, firm power to meet this growing need. With a limited window to position biogas as a key player in the electrification and data center landscape, attend this session to discuss market opportunities, project scalability, and the advantages of biogas in enhancing energy security.
Speakers:
Mindi DePaola, Senior Manager, Community and Equity, Agriculture Methane, EDF
Matt Tomich, President, Energy Vision
Justin Brady, VP, RNG Supply, Vanguard Renewables
Ethan Hendricks, SVP of RNG Marketing, AMP Americas
Matt Tomich, President Energy, Vision
Will project neighbors embrace or fight your new project? Community engagement can make or break the success of your project. Led by a leading environmental NGO, learn more about what lots of communities want and best practices and processes to build authentic relationships and prevent misinformation around anaerobic digesters. This session will cover strategies for successful collaboration, building long-term, meaningful relationships, and minimizing transactional interactions.
Wednesday, April 30
9:00-10:00am
Speakers:
Tom Murray, Vice President, Decarbonization Technology, VGS
Don Chahbazpour, Director of Regulatory Strategy, National Grid
Vincent Regnault, Executive Director Gas Supply & RNG, Energir
Mary Moerlins, Director of Environmental Policy, NW Natural
RNG presents a significant, yet underutilized, opportunity for utilities seeking sustainable solutions for heating and thermal energy. While transportation fuels have dominated the RNG conversation, they represent only a fraction of total RNG market potential. Take a deep dive into how gas utilities are integrating RNG into their portfolios to meet decarbonization goals, enhance energy security, and provide a scalable solution for industrial and residential heating.
Speakers:
Bernie Sheff, Partner, US RED
Bryan Sievers, Director of Government Relations, Roeslein
Alessandro Gardemann, President, Abiogas – Associação Brasileira de Biogás
Mark Stoermann, COO, Newtrient
How can biogas projects drive sustainability within the regenerative agriculture movement? In this session, we will explore how the integration of ecological services, biogas systems, and sustainable agriculture’s core principles, such as soil health and nutrient cycling, can all work together to make a successful, revenue-generating project. Explore the co-dependency of these different areas & how to successfully capture value for projects via conservation practices (CSA).
11:00am-12:00pm
Speakers:
Patrick Foody, Chief Development Officer, iogen
Cynthia Walker, CEO, Mobius Fuels
Patrick Lynch, CEO, Bioledger
Siva Ariyapadi, Global Business Manager, Bioenergy, ExxonMobil
Jeffrey Wright, VP of Commercial Development, Oberon Fuels
As supply and demand challenges emerge in the US RNG market, Europe presents a promising, additional opportunity. This session will explore key market expansion strategies and the evolving protocols and regulations that can improve market conditions. With growing interest in international opportunities, you will gain valuable insights into positioning your projects for success in an evolving global landscape.
Speakers:
Max Vernier, Managing Partner, Virentis Advisors
Allyson Goetschius, Executive Director Public Finance & Infrastructure Direct Lending, JP Morgan
Jon Ellis, Vice President, Renewable Energy, Pathward
David Roeder, Partner- Originator Waste Transition, 503 Capital Partners
Tyler Bailey, Manager of Investments, HASI
How does the finance industry view the current RNG market, and what tools are available for developers today? Take a deep dive into the evolving landscape of RNG financing, tax credits, and risk management viewpoints to make sure your project is best positioned to attract investors. Join us for a discussion on how shifting policies could impact project economics and what steps developers can take to maximize financial stability in an uncertain policy environment.
