Join us for a panel discussion on how California Bioenergy is helping dairies fuel a renewable future. We’ll walk through the whole cycle of dairy digester development and biogas production: from dairy cow manure handling on the farm, design of anaerobic digesters and biogas conditioning plants, project funding through CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program, and participation in U.S. EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program and CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program.

 Event Panelists:

Kasey Knoell, Greenhouse Gas Program Director, California Bioenergy

Kasey Knoell is a chemical and environmental engineer with almost a decade of experience supporting local, state, federal, and international governments and organizations in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission accounting and mitigation and regulatory program support in the energy, industrial process, and agriculture sectors. She is currently CalBio’s GHG Program Director, where she directs and implements processes and activities for GHG credit generation and reporting under the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) across CalBio’s portfolio of projects. Prior to joining CalBio, she was a Climate Change and Sustainability consultant at ICF. She has an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Johns Hopkins University and B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science from the University of Virginia.

Myrna Buenviaje, PE, Director of Engineering, California Bioenergy

Myrna Buenviaje has extensive experience in process and mechanical engineering and project management. Prior to joining CalBio in March 2021, she has worked for a large EPC company where she managed a program of engineering and design projects for its industrial office in Bakersfield, California. Her project management skills include scoping, front-end engineering design, and detailed design of multidisciplinary projects for various oil and gas clients in California. As Director of Engineering for CalBio, Myrna oversees the implementation of projects from conceptual stage to detailed design and construction. Myrna has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Divine Word University, Philippines. She has a Professional Engineer’s License in Mechanical Engineering in the State of California.

Roberta Brancher Franco, Ph.D., Senior Environmental Scientist, Methane Reduction Programs at CDFA

Roberta Brancher Franco works as a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). In her current role, Roberta oversees four programs that have the goal of reducing methane emissions from California agricultural operations, with a focus on dairy and livestock facilities. These programs are the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), CDFA Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP), and CDFA Organic Waste Composting. She has a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Agronomy from the University of California Davis, an M.S. in Animal Biology from the University of California Davis, and a B.S. in Agronomic Engineering from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Ashley Player, PE, Partner, Energy Compliance Services, Weaver

Ashley Player, PE, has over a decade of chemical engineering experience, including consulting for the petroleum and renewable fuel industries and preparing independent engineering reviews. She joined Weaver to help lead and grow our Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) presence, as well as focus on business development. She is an accredited Lead Verifier under the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

A professional engineer, she is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). She earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Clemson University. 

Registration

This event is free for AWWEE members and up to two guests. Non-member registration is $20.