North American Executive Issue 102 | Page 16

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organizations , fuel suppliers , fuel marketers , distributors , and technology providers .
“ We represent everything from the farmer ’ s field to the retail sites for our fuels ,” explains Donnell . “ As a trade association , I measure our success via the success of our member companies , and if they are growing and profitable , then we are doing our job right .
“ We have a very diverse set of skills because our industry depends on policy , and we must interact with anyone from engine manufacturers and automotive companies to agricultural businesses and farmers . Our team includes engineers , environmental scientists , and lobbyists , and they are all doing a lot of work for our members .”
While renewable fuels have finally reached the agendas of executives across North America , the trade association actually introduced biodiesel to the marketplace about 30 years ago . This gives it the experience needed to advise and educate this new audience about the benefits of decarbonization . “ Using your readers as the perfect example , they are operating in corporate environments where sustainability and carbon reduction are becoming increasingly important . With so much of the movement of heavy goods being reliant on diesel-based solutions , our biodiesel , renewable diesel , and SAF options can provide an immediate impact on decarbonizing transportation . We are always looking for ways to work with different people and introduce new ways of adopting a sustainable approach .”
Collaborative change
A further part of what Clean Fuels offers is work on federal and state policy . “ The energy industry is highly regulated , not just in the US , but globally . That introduces a lot of unique challenges , and rather than each company having to navigate their way through this legislation , we have our team sorting through the federal and state policies and helping guide the entire industry ,” Donnell elaborates .
Having access to this trusted voice is what makes being part of the trade association so valuable . “ We also offer the chance for likeminded companies to put their time and resources together and flag up problems at a higher level , even all the way to Congress . Speaking for our industry , many of our members enjoy getting to know and working with their fellow companies , peers , and colleagues , and sometimes helping to solve
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