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NBB production for all of 2010. Because a healthy biodiesel industry is good for the economy, that means jobs and economic activity. As your trade association, NBB is leading the charge and working hard to demonstrate the tax credit’s value and persuade lawmakers to extend it, just as we worked closely with the EPA to shape the biomass-based diesel pool within the RFS2 program. We lead on these issues through our membership-driven trade association and grassroots program. We acknowledge it is hard work, but it has paid
dividends. Since 2004, together we have grown the biodiesel marketplace from a 25 million gallon industry to an anticipated 1 billion gallons next year. Let’s keep the momentum going. I hope to see you in November! Anne Steckel, Vice President of Federal Affairs, National Biodiesel Board
Meet the DC team National Biodiesel Board staff members represent the biodiesel industry with direct advocacy and lobbying on the Hill but they also coordinate industry efforts on legislative, regulatory and legal matters. It is absolutely imperative that law makers and regulators on Capitol Hill understand what NBB is and what the biodiesel industry does. NBB’s core D.C. team is: • Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel • Director of Federal Communications Ben Evans • Senior Advisor Larry Schafer • Legislative Assistant Chico Matiella As part of their trade association, NBB members have an incredible team of lobbyists and consultants who keep them plugged in on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch. Along with a strong in-house team, our extensive network of contractor firms works diligently in Washington, D.C., and it includes four lobbying firms that specialize in energy, tax, regulatory, and agriculture issues. Washington Council Ernst & Young Washington Council Ernst & Young is an advisory services group that helps clients manage opportunities and risks associated with the legislative and regulatory process. It covers domestic and international taxation; health care; energy; employee benefits; financial services and other issues. WCEY assists clients in navigating the often byzantine legislative and regulatory process—from committee deliberations, outreach to leadership, and House and Senate floor consideration, all the way to regulatory implementation. Its main function with NBB is focused on tax legislation.
Services include issue monitoring and analysis, lobbying, regulatory affairs, Washington representation, and providing organizational support for trade associations. Its focus on agriculture enables them to specialize in all aspects of farm and international trade policy, renewable energy, biobased products, agricultural research, biotechnology, conservation, and rural transportation, among others. This expertise means that biodiesel is represented in Washington with commodity organizations, farm bill programs and policies, and USDA programs. Mayer Brown LLP Mayer Brown is a leading global law firm with offices in major cities across the Americas, Asia and Europe. Its presence in the world’s leading markets enables the firm to offer clients access to local market knowledge combined with global reach. They provide legal services in areas such as banking and finance; corporate and securities; litigation and dispute resolution; U.S. Supreme Court and appellate matters; environmental; government and global trade; and tax. In this role, it has most notably assisted NBB with international trade concerns and disputes, and RFS2 litigation from the petroleum industry. The Alpine Group Alpine Group is the newest member of NBB’s lobbying team. Founded in 1996, it has become one of Washington’s top lobbying firms, with a specialty in energy and environment issues. In its work for NBB, Alpine tracks energy legislation and issues related to the renewable fuel standard.
Gordley & Associates Gordley Associates provides a full range of government relations services, focused on practice areas related to agriculture. NOVEMBER 2011
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