The CEO of Aemetis, Inc., Eric McAfee, was awarded the 2026 William C. Holmberg Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Bioeconomy. McAfee accepted the award and delivered the Holmberg Memorial Address during a ceremony at the annual Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. on March 19, 2026. The event was hosted by Biofuels Digest, which reports having 6.4 million readers worldwide. A recording of the acceptance speech is available on the Aemetis website.
In his remarks, McAfee stated he accepted the award on behalf of his team and industry colleagues. "I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition, named to recognize the legacy of William Holmberg, an impactful bioeconomy leader," McAfee said. The award memorializes William C. Holmberg, who was known for his advocacy for energy security and renewable fuels during his tenure at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as an advisor to the American Council on Renewable Energy.
Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher of Biofuels Digest, highlighted McAfee's career persistence. "As the CEO of Aemetis and co-founder of Pacific Ethanol, Eric has spent more than two decades building in this space—not in straight lines, but through the real conditions of this industry: volatility, uncertainty, and constant change," Lane said. "And through all of that, he’s continued to build—projects that run, systems that scale, and companies that endure. That kind of persistence is rare—and it’s what makes this industry possible."
The recognition matters because it underscores the maturation and resilience required in the renewable fuels sector, an industry critical for reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy security. Aemetis, a diversified renewable natural gas and biofuels company, is actively developing projects that could have tangible impacts. The company is expanding a California biogas digester network to convert dairy waste into Renewable Natural Gas and operates ethanol and biodiesel production facilities in California and India. Furthermore, Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel plant and a carbon dioxide sequestration project in California, initiatives that align with global efforts to decarbonize transportation and industrial processes.
For investors and stakeholders following the company, the latest news and updates relating to Aemetis (NASDAQ: AMTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://tinyurl.com/amtxnewsroom. The award to McAfee signals leadership continuity and a sustained commitment to innovation in a sector facing significant technical, financial, and policy challenges. The company's forward-looking projects, such as the sustainable aviation fuel development, represent potential growth areas in the broader push for cleaner energy alternatives, though these endeavors are subject to market risks and regulatory changes as noted in the company's disclosures.
