The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) was founded in December 2006 by biodiesel pioneer Kelly King, activist Annie Nelson and film maker Daryl Hannah. Since then, the SBA has grown to include family farmers and farm organizations such as Farm Aid, the Institute for Agriculture Trade and Policy (IATP), members of the 25 x 25 coalition, environmental organizations including the EPA and NREL, renewable energy experts and NGO’s and university programs across the country. The SBA addresses issues concerning the sustainability of the U.S. biodiesel Industry through three initiatives. The primary mission of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance is the completion of an independent sustainability certification system for U.S. Biodiesel Feedstock, Production, Distribution and end use fuel. SBA programs also focus on educating the public on the values of community-based biodiesel systems and how local, sustainable biodiesel can help the U.S. move towards energy, economic and environmental security. Third, the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance provides tools for sustainability to biodiesel consumers and the biodiesel industry through our website and membership. By working with biodiesel consumers and the biodiesel industry, and promoting the value of sustainable community-based systems,the SBA is bringing people together to build a sustainable energy future that benefits all sectors of society. The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance relies on the hard work and dedication of our working Board of Directors, the SBA Staff and the expertise of the SBA Advisory Council to achieve the goals of the organization. These dedicated and driven individuals come from all areas of the industry and each contribute unique and valuable skills to the mission of the SBA.

In addition to our Board of Directors and Advisory Council, the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance is proud to have the support of our Honorary Board of Directors. These dedicated artists use their collective voices to spread a message of sustainable, community-based biodiesel. Each of these individuals has shown through their work, their art, and their lives that setting an example of social and environmental stewardship is a powerful tool to realize positive change. For more information on the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance Honorary Board of Directors click HERE.

Jeff Plowman, Executive Director - Jeff has been involved with the development of the biodiesel industry since 2000 and has worked in all areas of the biodiesel industry including feedstock development, biodiesel production, marketing and distribution. Jeff was formerly President of Austin Biofuels and in 2003 opened the first biodiesel retail station in Texas, established a Texas based supply chain and in 2006 developed Austin into the highest concentration biodiesel market in the nation. He is active in legislative issues as co-founder of the non-profit Biodiesel Coalition of Texas and voting member of Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association. Jeff is currently leading the efforts of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) to develop sustainability standards for the industry.

Tanner Watt, Associate Director - A social and environmental advocate and organizer since 1999. Tanner comes from a background in communications and computer technology and holds bachelor's degrees in both public relations and photography. He has been a biodiesel user and supporter of the sustainable biodiesel movement since 2006. Tanner has been with the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance since 2006, and is currently serving as Associate Director.

Annie Nelson, Co-Chair - One of the three founders of the SBA, she has been heavily involved in the biodiesel industry as an advocate and user since 2003. Heavily involved with social and environmental causes and organizations, including Farm Aid and Code Pink. Annie lends her voice and influence to the causes of the environment and community development.

Daryl Hannah, Co-Chair - Daryl Hannah, Co-founder of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) Daryl has acted in over forty films since the age of 11, she is a documentary and narrative filmmaker, beekeeper, game inventor, and an extremely passionate activist. Daryl designed dhlovelife.com her website dedicated to sharing solutions on how to live more harmoniously with the planet and all other living things. She is a biodiesel user and supporter of the sustainable biodiesel movement.

Laura Harrelson, Co-Chair - Laura has been active in the biodiesel community for many years, as a user and advocate. Ms. Louie is the co-founder of www.voiceyourself.org as well as a supporter of many environmentally and socially minded NGOs.

Ed Zwick, Secretary – Ed is a Hawaii based attorney with a background in international law. Ed has been a long time supporter of social and environmental causes. Mr. Zwick currently serves as Secretary and General Counsel for Pacific Biodiesel, Inc.

Mike Nasi, Treasurer - Mike is a partner with the Law Firm Jackson Walker in Austin, Texas. His practice focuses on air quality, waste and injection well permitting, soil and groundwater remediation, industrial waste water, and surface mining. He has been a biodiesel supporter and user since 2005.

Kelly King - Kelly is a founding member of the SBA. As Vice President of Pacific Biodiesel, Inc., she helped create the first community-based biodiesel business model in America which is still operational today. She resides in Hawai'i where she is active in environmental and educational issues.

Michael Bowman - Michael is a fifth-generation Coloradoan, born and raised on the family farm and ranch in Yuma County, Colorado. He is a National Steering Committee member for “25x'25", and in 2006 he served as Chair of Colorado's New Energy Future and as Co-Chair of Governor-elect Bill Ritter's energy policy transition team. Michael serves on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Conservation Voters and the 2008 Democratic National Convention Planning Committee. He served as a steering committee member of the Colorado Climate Action Plan and the National Leadership Summit for a Sustainable America and as a contributing expert to the Advisory Committee of the Presidential Climate Action Plan.

Kent Bullard – Kent began fleet biodiesel use with the National Park Service in 2000, has personally used biodiesel since 2001 and co-founded the Los Angeles Biodiesel Coop in 2006 to implement and support local biodiesel programs. He has long advocated for locally produced biodiesel from local resources. His technical expertise and quality assurance is a great benefit to the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance.

Jim Klienschmit – Jim is the Director for Rural Community Programs at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. He has been involved in community based agriculture for many years. Serving on the Board of Directors for the SBA since 2007, Jim lends legislative and agricultural expertise to the organization.

Dr. Randall von Wedel - Randall is the founder and Principal Biochemist for CytoCulture International, an environmental laboratory and consulting firm on the San Francisco Bay. More recently he also created the BioSolar Group of technical consultants working to develop renewable fuel strategies for corporations and government fleets. Dr. von Wedel pioneered environmental research (including the first marine toxicology studies ever performed on biodiesel), marketing and distribution of biodiesel in the Bay Area since his tests were conducted nearly 15 years ago in 1993.

Bill Holmberg- Mr.Holmberg graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and holds advanced degrees in Personnel Administration, Soviet Affairs and the Russian Language. He served for twenty-one years in the Marine Corps, nineteen of which were as an officer, and retired well decorated. Bill brings an additional thirteen years of experience in the federal government supporting sustainable agriculture and energy technologies, with a focus on biofuels. While at the EPA, FEO, FEA, and DOE, Bill helped to pioneer the ethanol and biodiesel industries. He retired from the federal government at the Senior Executive Service level. Bill spent an additional twenty-one years in the private sector, managing small businesses and associations relating to biofuels, including the New Uses Council and the Biomass Coordinating Council. He is a founding member of the Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC), which makes major contributions to the Senate and House Renewable and Energy Efficiency (RE & EE) Caucus. Bill is a member of core group promoting the annual Energy Expos on the Hill in concert with the SEC and the Senate and House RE & EE Caucus. He has been key member of the organizing committee of the Environmental and Clean Energy Inaugural Balls since 1989.

R. James Woolsey- Mr. Woolsey is the Venture Partner at Vantage Point Venture Partners and is also the Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; Of Counsel to the law firm of Goodwin Procter; and chairman of the Strategic Advisory Group of Paladin Capital Corporation.  Before he joined VantagePoint in March 2008, Mr. Woolsey was a Partner with Booz Allen Hamilton in McLean, Virginia, specializing in energy and security issues, and prior to that a partner with Shea & Gardner in Washington D.C., specializing in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution (arbitration and mediation).  He practiced at the firm for 22 years on four different occasions and served five times in the federal government for a total of 12 years, holding Presidential appointments in two Democratic and two Republican administrations.  He served as Director of Central Intelligence (1993-95), Ambassador and Chief Negotiator for the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty in Vienna (1989-91), Delegate at Large (on a part-time basis) to the Strategic Arms Reductions Talks (START) and the Defense and Space Talks in Geneva (1983-86), Under Secretary of the Navy (1977-79), and General Counsel to the U.S. Senate committee on Armed Services (1970-73).  He has served on numerous corporate and non-profit boards.  From time to time he speaks publicly and contributes articles to newspapers and other periodicals on such issues as national security, energy, foreign affairs and intelligence.

Karl Ra'bago - Karl is an environmental law attorney with nearly twenty years experience in guiding electricity policy and regulation, clean energy technology development and the implementation of sustainability principles. He is the founding member and Board Chair for the Center for Resource Solutions and former Chair of Green-E Governance Board responsible for the development of the Green-E certification system.

Dr. Dennis Keeney - Dennis was the first director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. He retired in 2000, and is professor emeritus of Agronomy and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. Dennis has published over 140 refereed papers on soil and water quality research, and served on numerous state, federal and international scientific committees and task forces. Dennis is also a Senior Fellow at IATP and the Department of Soil, Air and Water in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Joe Outlaw - Joe is a Professor and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University. He also serves as Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University. Joe led the team of Texas A&M economists who received awards in excellence for their 2002 farm bill education efforts from the American Agricultural Economics Association, the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, the National Public Policy Education Committee, USDA-FSA, and the Vice Chancellor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

Robert King - Bob is the principal founder and president of Pacific Biodiesel, Inc. Bob resides on Maui, where he founded one of the first commercial biodiesel processing plants in the U.S., an operation that also boasts the first retail biodiesel pump in the country. In addition to its own Hawaii-based production facilities, Pacific Biodiesel has built commercial production facilities for clients in Japan, Virginia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Maryland and California. Bob has just been nominated for a second term on the Hawaii State Environmental Council on which he currently serves as Chairman.

Larry Mitchell - Larry is the Director of Governmental Affairs with American Corn GrowersAssociation. He is a long time advocate of sustainable farming practices and supporter of community based agriculture. Larry brings expertise in sustainable agriculture and other fields to the Alliance.

Chris Garth - Chris operates Carolina Management System Services. He is a long time supporter of biodiesel and biofuel development, and a Quality (including BQ9000), Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Auditor and Management System Consultant.

Netaka White - Netaka is the Biofuels Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, a nonprofit organization formed by the State Legislature in 1995 to pioneer and expand Vermont’s emerging, green economy [www.vsjf.org] . Prior to joining VSJF, Netaka was the co-founder and Executive Director of the Vermont Biofuels Association from 2004-2008. He also serves on the Board of Renewable Energy Vermont, and the VT 25x'25 steering committee. Netaka and the VSJF have been actively working towards the development of a sustainable biofuels sector since 2004 with grant making, outreach and technical assistance. Grantees and stakeholders include farmers and agricultural researchers, biofuel and conventional fuel businesses, commercial users of biodiesel, and a range of professionals working in the energy and transportation sectors.

David Schaler - David is currently the Administrator of the Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development in the City of where he is responsible for guiding the development of the City’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan as well as for the formation of its overall sustainability initiative. He formerly served as Sustainable Development and Climate Change Coordinator in the Denver office of the EPA from 1995-2007. In that capacity he was responsible for promoting sustainable development and identifying opportunities to integrate the concept into EPA regulatory, educational, research and outreach missions. He designed and delivered sustainability training programs for EPA regional and headquarters office staff. He was a frequent local, national and international speaker, instructor and trainer on sustainability principles and practice as well as an advisor to local, State and national governments, non-profits, academic institutions and businesses on sustainability initiatives, policies and projects.