In 2002, a small group of representatives of companies and government agencies attended a meeting convened by Enmarq (formerly The Xcelon Group, Inc.) to publicly announce the formation of the Alternative Fuels Council.    The Council was formed at the request of several businesses that were involved in their own specific industry-related associations but wanted access to more diverse information concerning the new alternative energy revolution.  AFREC’s membership represents Pennsylvania and national companies.  The role of the Council was to work with industry to overcome technical, economic and social barriers to commercial utilization of alternative energy.

The goal of the Council was to create a comprehensive alternative energy forum that  encouraged high standards of quality and integrity among its members; disseminated information about developing technologies and their appropriate applications; monitor energy policy; ensure the advocacy of alternative energy services; provide opportunities to share and publicize Council members’ project successes; and provide a single voice that speaks on behalf of the members opportunities, interests and concerns.

During the formation year, 2003, meetings were held at the PA Turnpike Commission where dedicated individuals met to strategize the actual business model that would link business profitability with social responsibility.  In lieu of meetings, Business Roundtables were the format that was chosen and scheduled four times a year.  The Roundtables were moved to the State Capitol to seize maximum attention from the public and private sector.

The first Alternative Energy Expo also was held in 2003 at the Capitol with participation from HARSCO, Cummins, Mack Trucks and new emerging technology companies.  The Legislature proclaimed the first “Alternative Fuels Renewable Energy Day” on the event day.

In 2004, the First Energy Flame Awards Program was announced.  UPS was honored at Business Advocate of the Year, Mike McClurkin, PA Turnpike Commission and Susan Summer, PA Department of Environmental Protection – State Agency Advocates of the Year and Dan Sharrer, founder of Soy Energy – Alternative Energy Business of the Year.  Ending 2004 on a high note with the passage of the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant Program and Act 213: Pennsylvania's "Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard", AFREC positioned its members to capture the new opportunities for alternative energy business.

As the Alternative Energy Business was thrust into the headlines during the fuel crisis of 2005, a new name was adopted to reflect the membership - “Alternative Fuels Renewable Energy Council” or simply “AFREC".

2005’s Roundtables' theme was “Meet the State Secretary” series.  The four State spokespersons were: Kathleen McGinty, Secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection; Greg Fajt, Secretary, PA Department of Revenue, Dennis Wolff, Secretary, PA Department of Agriculture; Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary, PA Department of Community and Economic Development.  Each roundtable spotlights a Corporate and Government view.  Several of the business guest speakers in 2005 were Robert Hall, Corporate Vice President, UPS, Dick Waybright-Mason Dixon Farms, and Bill Neidigh-WSI.  2005 was a leadership year of “firsts” for our members and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Dan Sharrer-Soy Energy –opened the first Soybean Oil Refinery, Worley & Obetz opened the first biodiesel fueling station and together with Amerigreen opened the first bioblending terminal.  Sysco Foods began to run their Central Pennsylvania fleet on BioFuel.

2006 had a national theme with our guest speakers representing national companies and the federal government.  The Council has evolved into an formidable information brokerage group that consists of business leaders, scientists, manufacturers, producers and consumers who regularly exchange information and collaborate on business.  Many members have learned about waste-to-energy technologies that have direct impact on their bottom line.  Others have gained access for their products to a broader corporate and public sector clientele.

We hosted the 2nd Energy Flame Award Program in 2006.  Secretary Kathleen McGinty of the Department Environmental Protection was honored as Government Leader of the Year.  SYSCO was named Leader of Corporate Initiatives. Donald Hunt, the president of SYSCO, accepted an award on behalf of his company.  Worley & Obetz was named Business Catalyst and the president, Jeff Lyons accepted the award.

2007 was a banner year for AFREC.  We formally expanded to a national level since most of our corporate members were national and global businesses. 2007’s theme was “The Next Frontier - Prospects and Profits for Alternative Energy.   Major infrastructure projects were emerging from within the group.  So far we have seen the site selection for the first two ethanol plants in Pennsylvania.  One biodiesel refinery has expanded its footprint to include processing waste oil into biofuel.  The legislature struggled with the entire alternative energy package during the budget process in June 2007.  September commenced a Special Session on Alternative Energy to address specific commitments from the state and industry to deal with funding major projects in advance of the electricity rate caps that will expire in 2010.  Our guest speakers have been some of the major movers and shakers in the alternative energy industry.  Some of the speakers have been Allen Rider-25x’25, Drew Bond-Senior Advisor/US Dept of Energy, Mitchell LeMasters-Renewable Energy Caterpillar, Dan Tydall-Hydrogen/Air Products, Public Utility Commissioners reports, NRG Energy executives, Larry Russo-US Dept of Energy/Biomass Program, Granger Energy executives, and research and technology updates from Scientists from major universities.  We continued the mix of federal and state officials and the Presidents from Mid Atlantic and Fortune 500 companies.  In December we launched an international component which presented the Ambassador from Denmark and R. James Woolsey, Former Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency and Vice President of Booz Allen.

The theme for 2008 was “The Pursuit of Security for a Sustainable Energy Future.”.  Some of our speakers were Harry Halloran-CEO Energy Unlimited & CEO American Refining Group, Daniel Desmond-Deputy Secretary/Office of Energy & Tech Development/PA EPA, Eli Brill-Legal Counsel/Waste Management.  Philip Gotthelf, President of Equidex, Inc. and an expert on futures trading, spoke in March.  He is a regular guest on CNBC and MSNBC and is quoted regularly in “The Wall Street Journal” and “The New York Times”.  We also had Dennis Wolff-Secretary, PA Dept of Agriculture, Dennis Yablonsky-PA Secretary of Community and Economic Development, James Creedon-Secretary of PA Dept of General Services, Luke May-General Motors, Ken Saenz-Booz Allen Hamilton.  A major accomplishment was to provide the educational support for biofuels incentives and  the first national business model for backup power generation as a homeland security issue and continuity of government plan.

In late 2009, Hershey Resorts and Entertainment took a front role in leading the expansion of program offerings.  In 2010 we will host the First AFREC Energy Summit at the Hershey Resorts Conference Center.  We expect the Ambassador of Denmark to be the keynote speaker, who will discuss the recent Copenhagen World Energy Summit.  Members will have access to all of our Business Roundtables though our website including videos and presentation slides. 

AFREC has earned its distinction for providing high caliber speakers and forums to meet and discuss potential business.  For corporations that do not have the time to attend the meetings, they have found AFREC provides the benefit of learning about alternative fuels, funding opportunities and public relations that promote their social responsibility for a safer, cleaner environment.  AFREC helps these companies to achieve a better public image of using environmentally acceptable energies and initiatives but not with financial penalties.

Over the years, the Council has become a premier source of contact for gaining access to information regarding industries and technologies dealing with alternative energy.  Our members include Fortune 500 companies and many other companies who are leading the way for advocacy for alternative energy.

We regularly provide media commentary.  Most recently, AFREC provided live commentary after the President’s State of the Union Address.  We are seen giving testimony on Capitol Hill regarding the Barriers to Commercialization of Alternative Fuels and have been guest presenters at such prestigious conferences such as the Goddard Forum.

AFREC has cultivated many working relationships with other organizations 25 x 25, American Coalition on Renewable Energy, PA Farm Bureau, Penn-Ag, PA Motor Truck Association, National Bus Association to name a few.

AFREC is proud to be a catalyst and a leader in the advocacy of alternative fuels and renewable energies industries.  We believe that businesses, small and large can participate in creating an opportunity provided by new energy products that ensure security and prosperity for us and future generations. 

AFREC is not a political action committee.

ABOUT THE FOUNDING COMPANY

AFREC is an entrepreneurial venture that was founded by The Xcelon Group in 2002.  In 2008, The Xcelon Group Inc. was renamed Enmarq (www.enmarq.com) an acronym for Energy Marketing.  Enmarq creates strategies for bringing energy commerce products to market and by getting credit for corporate environmental initiatives.  Enmarq is a business development, marketing and public relations firm that facilitates procurement, distribution, manufacturing and structure business alliances for the alternative energy industry.

Our clients benefit from the Council’s visibility that we create for them as a new economic sector that are capable of creating new jobs, spurring new industry, lead generation and associated marketing opportunities.

Contact Information:  ENMARQ, 1029 Mumma Rd, Suite 200, PO Box 185, Lemoyne, PA 17043 717-920-0527
Rosemary T. McAvoy   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Al Ringhoffer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it