Argus North American Biofuels, LCFS & Carbon Markets Summit

Main Conference: Day Two

07:50 - 08:50

Morning registration and networking

08:50 - 09:00

Argus welcome

09:00 - 09:05

Chairperson’s opening remarks

Keynote updates on regulatory standards

09:05 - 09:25

Governor of California address: California’s role in climate policies and its unique position to set standards

• What is California doing to maintain momentum in climate policy, especially with the federal government stepping back from these efforts?
• What is the status of the climate disclosure rules (SB 261 and SB 253) in California, particularly regarding corporate GHG and climate financial risk disclosures, which are set to come into play in 2026?
• How do California's climate goals, including carbon trading and emissions reductions, align with federal policies, and what is the impact of federal policies on meeting California's emissions targets for its cap-and-trade and LCFS programs?
• What is the potential for the Congressional Review Act to revoke California’s waivers, and how might this impact the state's ability to set its own standards and influence other states?

09:25 - 10:00

Keynote address - California’s Cap-and-Trade, LCFS and legislative updates

• Progress on the cap-and-trade rulemaking and reauthorization of the California cap-and-trade beyond 2030
• What are the key components of California’s cap-and-trade programme and its broader carbon trading programs? 
• How is California's LCFS rulemaking going to the shape biofuel incentives? How is California adapting its LCFS approach in response to federal stances on waivers and regulations for cleaner vehicles across all fuels?
• What are the latest developments regarding California’s initiatives on Scope 2 and Scope 3 GHG accounting, and what challenges have emerged over the past two years?

Speakers Include:

Rajinder Sahota

Deputy Executive Officer, Climate Change and Research

California Air Resources Board

Jessica Dell

Editorial Manager, Environmental Markets

Argus

10:00 - 10:45

Networking coffee break and meet with the regulators

Optional: Meet with the regulators
Three weeks before the conference, delegates will receive an email which will allow them to sign up for 5-minute slots with regulators from Oregon, New Mexico, Washington, California and Canada.

10:45 - 11:25

The dichotomy between federal vs state policies: will clean energy initiatives accelerate or reverse?

• What has transpired in the first nine months of the presidency? What can we expect from the remaining three years of the Trump administration?
• Tariffs and trade wars: how do new U.S. trade policies under Trump impact the biofuels and renewable feedstocks markets? 
• How will state and federal policy shifts, including federal tax policies and low-carbon fuel programmes, impact clean energy efforts? 
• To what extent can state-level leadership compensate for federal inaction? Can increased state leadership accelerate market growth?
• How can businesses find opportunities to continue operations profitability and move forward with commercial success in an uncertain world?

Speakers Include:

Eric Scheriff

Senior Managing Director

Capstone

11:25 - 12:15

The march of the low carbon fuel standards: California, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico

• What do current programmes look like and what is the impact on the renewables industry? 
• What key factors, including feedstock availability, biofuel blending mandates, and EV adoption targets, impact the supply, demand, and pricing of credits in LCFS programmes?
• How do varying levels of stringency and carbon intensity scoring between these states affect credit pricing and competition for low-carbon fuels?
• How will changes to California’s LCFS, particularly regarding sustainability criteria and indirect land use change, impact feedstocks? 
• What are the key commercial considerations for businesses entering markets such as California and the west coast, particularly regarding policies such as LCFS and carbon pricing?
• What are common pitfalls and best practices for navigating LCFS and cap-and-trade when expanding into these markets?

Speakers Include:

Matthew Botill

Division Chief

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

12:15 - 13:15

Networking lunch break

13:15 - 14:00

North of the border: Canada’s current and proposed national and provincial carbon taxes and trading markets

• How might the upcoming federal review of provincial carbon pricing systems impact the alignment between Canada’s national and provincial markets? What risks and opportunities should businesses anticipate, particularly regarding the federal output-based system and its interaction with provincial initiatives like the Clean Fuel Regulation?
• What opportunities and challenges exist for U.S.-Canada clean fuel trade, particularly in terms of logistics, regulations, and the export of U.S.-sourced feedstocks, and how is this impacting the supply of program credits in Canada?
• In what ways do Canada's CFR and British Columbia's LCFS drive demand for low-carbon fuels such as biodiesel, renewable diesel, SAF, and marine fuels, and how do they align with U.S. production capabilities?
• What is the potential interaction between Canada’s CFR and established markets such as California, Oregon, BC, Washington?

14:00 - 14:40

EPA briefing: What are the latest updates on RFS, CCS and carbon scoring?

• What upcoming rulemaking efforts is the EPA currently focusing on, including renewable volume obligations (RVOs), the RFS standards for 2026 and beyond?
• What challenges remain in addressing small refinery exemptions (SRE) under the RFS, and how can they be overcome, especially in light of upcoming specifics from the administration on volumes, program changes, and adjustments to SREs policies?
• How is EPA balancing goals to set strong renewable fuel mandates with potential headwinds to the sector like tariffs restricting foreign feedstocks, changes in tax policy, and some biorefineries idling in the last year? 

Biofuels in flux: exploring the shifting supply-demand landscape

15:25 - 16:10

The state of the global biofuels market: what direction is it heading?

• How are tariffs and protectionism affecting feedstock availability, production, and supply chains, and how will varying regulations on feedstock life cycle emissions influence each country’s approach to biofuel production?
• How are traders managing risk in biofuels and feedstocks markets and how can changes to policy affect flows? 
• The anti-dumping duties situation – What impacts are trade inquiries into US renewable diesel imports having on the market? How are flows reshaping? What does it mean for the availability of feedstocks and biofuels volumes? 
• What are the key policy drivers globally? What best practices can be taken from key biofuel regions such as the US, Asia, Latin America and Europe?

16:10 - 16:45

Shepherding feedstocks through the value chain: securing sustainable and scalable feedstocks

A deep dive into energy crop profiles, agriculture residues, waste, and animal products for feedstocks. 

• Reviewing the feedstock landscape in North America – where are the key trading routes as new tariffs come into play?
• What are the challenges and opportunities related to securing sustainable and scalable feedstocks for biofuel production, including regional availability and sourcing?
• What are the developments of new feedstocks, such as advanced feedstocks and the emergence of new technologies to deal with such feedstocks? What novel crops are the industry seeing with the potential to be a large-scale feedstock option for biofuel production?
• What technological, logistical, and economic challenges need to be overcome to produce biofuels from new feedstocks?
• What effect will CFPC/45Z have on domestic and international feedstocks, export trends, and business decision-making, especially as the carbon intensity of biofuels is a growing area of discussion? 

16:45 - 17:20

Agricultures role in biofuels and reaping carbon benefits by encouraging improved agricultural practice

• How can improvements in agriculture practices contribute to carbon sequestration and reduce the CI of crops and biofuels? How can farmers and energy companies collaborate to establish supply chains and ensure long-term market growth for biofuels?
• What criteria can be used to evaluate feedstocks in terms of land use efficiency, particularly regarding indirect land use change? 
• How will the use of intermediate cover crops positively impact agriculture practices and GHG savings?
• How does the disconnect between USDA DSA guidance and Treasury's 45Z programme limit farmers' ability to reduce feedstock carbon intensity, and what impact does this have on incentives for sustainable farming practices? Additionally, how can energy and agricultural policies be better aligned to create opportunities for both markets?

Speakers Include:

Holly Mayton

Lead – Research Partnerships & Science Policy

John Deere

Monte Shaw

Executive Director

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association

17:20 - 17:25

Chairpersons closing remarks

17:25 - 19:00

Networking drinks reception

08:00 - 09:00

Breakfast and registration

09:00 - 09:05

Chairperson’s opening remarks

09:05 - 09:45

State of the States: Unifying Cap-and-Trade and regulations to meet emissions targets

• How do the cap-and-trade programs of RGGI and WCI vary in their scope, compliance structures, and allocation of allowances? What key factors drive carbon credit prices in these markets, and in what ways do these price signals influence emissions reduction decisions?
• The program review to change RGGI’s rules. Is there potential for new states to join RGGI, and could it be expanded to include other sectors like transportation or industrial emissions? Particularly with the potential impact of a state such as New York participating in RGGI while proposing to operate its own cap-and-invest program?
• Market linkage - what are the key obstacles and opportunities for states to link their programmes with California’s? What policy reforms are necessary for successful integration? When will the Washington-WCI market likely be linked and what changes are being considered for Washington's program mechanics?
• How do Canada's federal carbon pricing policies, including the cap-and-trade systems in Quebec, compare to California's system?

Speakers Include:

Derek Nixon

Cap-and-Invest Section Manager

Washington State Department of Ecology

Nicole Singh

Climate Protection Manager, Office of GHG Programs

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

09:45 - 10:20

Improving producer efficiencies and adopting low-carbon strategies to produce sustainable fuels

• How are the new tax credit policy, upcoming LCFS changes, and tariffs impacting fuel producers’ supply decisions and the market outlook?
• Ongoing innovation to drive down CI scores during biofuel production – how are refineries reducing scope emissions? How are producers navigating the current environment, particularly in terms of feedstock selection and managing the complex, fragmented regulatory requirements?
• Are there any new renewable diesel plants scheduled to come online, or is there any planned expansion in capacity, and where will this fuel be distributed?
• How do stringent standards influence its destination, and how are flow volumes determined?

 

10:20 - 11:00

Networking coffee break and meet with the regulators

Optional: Meet with the regulators
Three weeks before the conference, delegates will receive an email which will allow them to sign up for 5-minute slots with regulators from Oregon, New Mexico, Washington, California and Canada.

11:00 - 11:40

Overcoming barriers in clean fuel projects: What’s holding developers back and how can funding and innovation help?

• What are the most promising yet underdeveloped technology pathways for producing clean fuels, including waste agriculture, hydrogen, and CO2 capture?
• What are the key challenges developers face in transitioning early-stage clean fuel projects to commercial-scale production, particularly regarding construction costs, delays, and lessons learned from initial projects?
• How can technology readiness be accelerated to ensure the successful transition from early-stage technologies to commercially viable solutions?
• What are funding mechanisms such as banks, government loans, grants and tax credits doing to support the development of carbon reduction projects and help investors mitigate market risks?
• What upcoming regulatory changes should developers be aware of, and how might these affect their technology offerings, particularly in terms of carbon emissions and compliance adjustments?

Speakers Include:

Hardik Shah

Senior Licensing Manager

Topsoe

11:40 - 12:15

Building trust: Traceability, sustainability and certification of biofuels and feedstocks

• What are the mechanisms of the certification process? How will certification of crop-based feedstocks impact the biofuel market, and why is aligning international sustainability criteria crucial for global trade?
• How can transparency be enhanced in the verification and certification process, especially when companies require multiple certifications for different markets (such as RFS, LCFS, ISCC, CORSIA), and how can fuel producers navigate new verification requirements for successful outcomes?
• How are carbon intensity and life cycle assessments calculated for various feedstocks and biofuels, and how is carbon intensity calculated to unlock additional carbon value? 
• How can traceability, testing and inspection be used to address fraud in a fragmented market?

 

Speakers Include:

Michael Wang

Director, Systems Assessment Center - Environmental Assessment Leader

Argonne National Laboratory

12:15 - 13:00

Finance and tax credits: 45V, 48C, 45Q, 45Z

• What impact does the uncertainty surrounding the potential repeal of federal tax credits under the IRA impact biofuels and hydrogen markets, and what are the implications for businesses and investors?
• How is the implementation of 45Z, the absence of a long-running blenders tax credit, and the potential for durable trade restrictions disrupting the market?
• In what ways can biofuel producers navigate the possible changes to feedstock regulations and restrictions while still benefiting from tax credits such as 45V and 45Q?
• What effect will 45Z have on domestic and international feedstocks, export trends, and business decision-making, especially as the carbon intensity of biofuels is a growing area of discussion? 
• Is it possible that there will be significant changes to the green hydrogen tax incentives under Section 45V in the future? What changes will we see?
  What are the upcoming developments regarding hydrogen storage ITC, RNG treatment under 45Z and/or 45V, and fuel cell ITCs?

Speakers Include:

Timothy Urban

Senior Principal

Bracewell LLC

13:00 - 14:00

Networking lunch break

14:00 - 14:35

The role of low CI ethanol in the decarbonization of gasoline

• We are seeing an increase in the ethanol blend percentage worldwide, and US lawmakers are pushing for a legislative fix to allow year-round E15. With an increase in E15 in the US, how might this impact volumes available for export to markets such as Canada, the UK, and India? Could this lead to greater demand for Brazilian ethanol in North American markets?
• What new infrastructure is needed to support permanent E15 nationwide, including pumps, tanks, and rail capacity?
• How could the shift towards second- and third-generation ethanol, made from non-food feedstocks like agricultural waste and forestry residues address the sustainability concerns associated with corn-based ethanol?
• With CARB releasing the Tier II study on E15 and growing interest in using CCS and other low-carbon technologies, how can these innovations help lower the carbon intensity (CI) of ethanol production? 
• Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and E85 – Brazil and India are fully committed. With California being an important market for FFVs, what does the future hold for the U.S. in terms of FFV adoption and infrastructure development? 

 

Speakers Include:

Ankit Chandra

Senior Manager – Global Ethanol Market

U.S. Grains Council

Martin Croft

Head of US Ethanol Trading

Shell

14:35 - 15:10

Charging ahead: the role of ZEVs and EVs in federal and state clean fuel programs

• How might the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) impact the demand for biofuels in the long term?
• How are states such as California, Washington, Oregon, and New York implementing clean fuel standards and ZEV mandates, and how does Canada’s approach to ZEV adoption, particularly in British Columbia, compare to these efforts and the federal ZEV mandate?
• How does California’s inability to mandate ZEVs for both light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty trucks impact the setting of emission caps and LCFS compliance in California and Washington?
• How are federal incentives, such as tax credits and rebates, shaping the adoption of EVs and ZEVs across the U.S.?

15:10 - 15:15

Chairperson’s closing remarks and end of conference

Optional add-on: RINs Workshop - September 16

08:00 - 12:10

Argus RINs, RFS, CFR and LCFS Workshop

Your introduction to the wider regulatory framework developments and market drivers in North America. Add this workshop to your pass to get an introduction to the regulatory framework of the RFS, LCFS and other programs and the road ahead. 

• Understanding RINs: recent trends and challenges in RIN trading, price drivers, compliance, market dynamics, feedstocks options and products.
• Update on Inflation Reduction Act and Clean Fuel Production Credit for Biofuels
• Program updates including: California, Washington, New Mexico, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota and New York
• Credit stacking: how to value RD and SAF
• North American Market outlook for RD and SAF supply/demand/pricing
• Deep dive into Canada’s compliance markets - Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR), British Columbia’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard and other provincial programs. Gain an understanding of the CFR regulation, framework, and market sentiment along with new updates to the regulation.

Speakers Include:

Leah Kennon

Senior Manager, Consulting

Argus

12:10 - 13:00

Networking lunch

Join the main conference welcome lunch with your main conference pass.

*Please note:

The SAF Focus Day, RINs, RFS, LCFS Workshop and Golf Experience are paid add-ons and cannot be purchased separately.

Optional add-on: SAF Focus Day - September 15

08:00 - 09:00

Registration and morning coffee

09:00 - 09:05

Chairperson’s opening address

Speakers Include:

Louise Burke

Business Development

Argus

Creating an environment for growth and collaboration

09:10 - 09:50

SAF in the balance: navigating political hurdles, incentives, regulatory challenges, and the path to 2030

Hear from regulatory experts as they explore programmes including the SAF Grand Challenge, RFS, LCFS, IRA and tax incentives.

• How will the production and uptake of SAF progress under the new administration especially as producers need both federal and state-level incentives to bridge the price gap between SAF and conventional jet fuel.
• What is the status of California’s SAF agreement with A4A and its subsequent implementation?
• Will we see a SAF Grand Challenge version 2 that aligns more with the current administration’s goals? How does U.S. policy align with global standards, such as CORSIA?
• Understanding how the LCFS programme will apply to aviation, with SAF as an eligible credit generate in the program.
• How could the 45Z tax credit  tax credits help close the price differential between petroleum jet fuel and SAF?
• What role do SAF tax credits and subsidies play in encouraging greater production and investment in SAF infrastructure?

Speakers Include:

Robin Vercruse

Executive Director

Low Carbon Fuels Coalition

Steve Csonka

Executive Director

CAAFI (Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative)

09:50 - 10:30

KEYNOTE PANEL: Building a robust SAF supply chain through collaboration across the aviation industry

• How is the industry looking at synergizing the different elements of the value chain to overcome the existing barriers around SAF production and offtake?
• What is needed for SAF to become a sustainable market? How does SAF fit into the broader mix of solutions for sustainable aviation, including electric aircraft, hydrogen-powered flight, and carbon capture technologies?
• The “S” in SAF - what is the potential for corn-based ethanol to become a dominant feedstock in SAF production? Will other markets globally accept that as sustainable? What feedstocks are deemed sustainable? 
• What impact do financiers have on driving the acquisition of new fuel-efficient airplanes and technologies? At what level and stage of production are they looking to engage?
• Last-mile logistics: How can airport facilities be repurposed to adequately manage SAF distribution considering the lengthy infrastructure requirements? What alternative solutions are available?

 

Speakers Include:

Phillip Garcia

Director, SAF Marketing & Commercial Development

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

Sean Newsum

Managing Director, Environmental Affairs

Airlines for America

Michael Fulton

Chief SAF Guy & Strategy Leader

FedEx

Geoff Tauvette

Executive Director

Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (C-SAF)

10:30` - 11:15

Morning coffee and networking

Aligning expectations: SAF suppliers and offtaker perspectives

11:15 - 11:55

Regional SAF supply dynamics: how are producers scaling up

• What is the current production capacity for SAF in North America and how does it compare with the rest of the world? 
• How are existing refineries across the region adapting to contribute to SAF production?
• What are the trade dynamics globally, given new biofuel tax credit policies in the US?
• How can we overcome key barriers to scaling up production, such as feedstock availability, infrastructure, and technology?

11:55 - 12:35

Clearing the skies: What factors are most important when developing sustainability strategies for airlines?

• How are airlines setting goals for SAF consumption, securing long-term supply agreements, and integrating SAF into their fleets?
• How can airlines work more closely with fuel producers to ensure the availability of supply of fuels? How can the industry make sure the perspectives of airlines and fuel producers are aligned to ensure there are fuels to meet the demand? 
• What role will cross-industry collaboration between investment companies, airlines and fuel producers have in leveraging resources and mitigating investment risk? 

 

Speakers Include:

Ryan Spies

Managing Director, Sustainability

Alaska Airlines

12:35 - 13:35

Networking lunch break

Technological advancements

13:35 - 14:15

Powering the Future of SAF: emerging technologies and pathways for scaling production

HEFA, gasification and Fischer-Tropsch, power-to-liquids (PtL), eFuels, alcohol-to-jet (ATJ), and methanol-to-jet (MTJ) technologies
 

• Given that HEFA is currently the most accessible technology and the availability of waste fats and oils is limited, what other technologies will help increase SAF production? 
• How are industry standards and policies accelerating the commercialisation and scale up of next-generation SAF technology? What is the timeline of these projects? 
• How is the industry accelerating the ATJ production pathway and what are timelines for bringing new capacity online? 
• Is it possible for hydrogen production in North America and worldwide to fuel aviation, ground transportation, and power generation at the same time? 
• How are technological advancements helping to expand feedstock optionality to produce SAF?

Speakers Include:

Steve Csonka

Executive Director

CAAFI (Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative)

14:15 - 14:45

Co-processing: the rapid route to producing SAF at scale?

• What is the potential of co-processing within existing refineries to accelerate SAF production?
• What challenges do different co-processing pathways and technical specifications present, particularly in North America versus Europe?
• How do agricultural feedstocks such as soy, canola, and intermediate crops align with co-processing? And how does the lack of tax credits in the U.S. impact co-processing SAF adoption and carbon intensity reduction?

14:45 - 15:30

Networking coffee break

Technological advancements to expand feedstock optionalities

15:30 - 15:50

Spotlight on Europe: market and pricing developments in the year of SAF mandates

• European market overview: regulations and market trends
• SAF pricing and hedging: managing risks in an evolving market
• The role of Argus Open Markets (AOM): first SAF price discovery platform

Speakers Include:

Alfonso Berrocal

VP Business Development– Middle Distillates & SAF

Argus

15:50 - 16:30

Leveraging the book and claim system to grow SAF usage in the region

• What strategies can stakeholders use to address SAF’s cost premium, and manage its distribution across the value chain, particularly with the complexities of SAF pricing and the book-and-claim process?
• How do corporate feedstock needs align with regulatory frameworks, and what strategies can the industry use to meet these requirements?
• How can the book-and-claim system, paired with technologies such as blockchain, drive SAF adoption, and what are the best practices for managing SAF registries?
• What role does end-user education play in boosting SAF adoption, and how can it influence corporate and consumer willingness to pay the SAF premium?

Speakers Include:

Madison Carroll

Executive Director

CoSAFA

Edmond Yi

GMA Manager

Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA)

16:30 - 17:00

Aviation interactive roundtables and in-flight coffee service

Join this interactive discussion with 15-20 attendees. Explore themes within your group around a specific topic and collaborate with industry experts on best practices and ideas in moving the industry forward

Roundtable 1: SAF technologies
Exploring the latest advancements in conversion technologies and their role in expanding SAF production capacity

Roundtable 2: Feedstocks
An in-depth exploration of the different feedstocks available for SAF production: How can the SAF industry ensure a reliable and diverse supply?
How do different feedstock options, such as waste oils, algae, cellulosic materials, and biomass, affect SAF production efficiency and cost?

Roundtable 3: Finance
What factors do investors consider when investing in SAF projects, and how can these projects ensure bankability and progress to a Final Investment Decision (FID)?

Roundtable 4: Policy and regulation
Examining the status of existing and upcoming SAF policies regionally. How are they affecting SAF production in the short to long term?

Leaders: TBC

17:00 - 17:05

Chairperson’s closing remarks and end of roundtables

Speakers Include:

Louise Burke

Business Development

Argus

17:05 - 18:30

Networking drinks reception

Join the main conference welcome drinks reception with your main conference pass.

*Please note:

The SAF Focus Day, RINs, RFS, LCFS Workshop and Golf Experience are paid add-ons and cannot be purchased separately.

Optional add-on: Golf Experience - September 16

*Please note:

The SAF Focus Day, RINs, RFS, LCFS Workshop and Golf Experience are paid add-ons and cannot be purchased separately.

08:00 - 12:00

Golf

Add golf to your main conference pass for an extra networking boost and some friendly competition with your colleagues and peers ahead of the main event!

12:00 - 13:00

Networking lunch

Join the main conference welcome lunch with your main conference pass.