Biofuels Digest has released its 2016 ranking of the “Top 100 People in the Advanced Bioeconomy,” and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Director Dr. Jonathan Male is ranked high in the list at number six. Sharing this prestigious spot with Dr. Male are other top players from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)— Assistant Secretary for EERE, David Danielson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for  Transportation, Reuben Sarkar. 

Other Energy Department leaders recognized by Biofuels Digest include U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, who ranked 37, and BETO Senior Executive Advisor Dr. Harry Baumes who ranked 31. Dr. Baumes is currently on detail with BETO from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Also from USDA, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was named the most significant person in the bioeconomy for the sixth year in a row. BETO partners with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Biomass Research and Development Board.

Leaders at two Energy Department national laboratories also made the list—Philip Pienkos, Tom Foust, and Helena Chum, from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory ranked 61, and Michael Wang from Argonne National Laboratory ranked 98.

Each year, Biofuels Digest, a widely read online biofuels trade publication, and its readers nominate and vote on the most influential leaders and pioneers in advancing the research, development, and distribution of biofuels. The high ranking of BETO staff shows industry recognition of BETO’s role in concretely moving the advanced bioeconomy forward to commercialization. See how BETO ranked in 2015.  

Congratulations to all who made Biofuels Digest’s Top 100!