By Jack Money
As printed in The Oklahoman, September 20, 2008.

Growing interest.

That's what organizers of the GROW, Oklahoma Biofuels Conference hope to see every time it meets.

The conference will be held at Oklahoma City in November.

To state Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker, the meeting really serves as a way to get everyone who could potentially be involved in the biofuels industry talking.

Crop growers, farmers and ranchers, scientists and researchers, seed companies and farm implement manufacturers, refiners and federal and state policy makers all need to be communicating, he said this week.

"You know, these conferences are just one big conversation," Fleischaker said.

"What we try to do is bring to the table all the various stakeholders, so they can talk to each other.

"Really, our job is the easiest, because if we are doing our job, we are listening ... to determine what it is that they need to further their success."

What attendees will hear
The conference will start with an overview of Oklahoma's biofuels demonstration fields, including ones in the Guymon and Chickasha areas.

Also on the first day, attendees will get updates from governmental and lobbying officials about the latest federal legislation affecting the renewable fuels industry, and hear from agricultural economists on their views about Texas' effort to suspend the federal government's renewable fuel standards requirements.

Feedstock options for Oklahoma will be discussed, as will developments within the industry's technology.

On the conference's second day, panelists will talk about the food versus fuel debate involving corn.

New information provided
Other events that could be held the second day are still in the works, organizers said.

"These presentations really are designed to bring new information out and to focus the discussion that we hope will be occurring among all of the participants," Fleischaker said.

"Finally, we want to do a little bragging about ourselves," he added, promoting the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center. So far, state government has spent $14 million to fund the center and its research efforts.

"We want to show the people what it is we are doing with their money."

The GROW, Oklahoma Biofuels Conference will be held Nov. 12 and 13 at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City. The cost to attend the conference is $60 a person, though students with valid identification can register in advance for free. To register to attend, go to the conference Web site, www.growOK.com, or phone 800-203-5494.

This article appeared in The Oklahoman, www.newsok.com, on September 20, 2008.