Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) announced that its CEO, Eric McAfee, was awarded the 2026 William C. Holmberg Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Bioeconomy. McAfee received the award and delivered the Holmberg Memorial Address on March 19, 2026, at the annual Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., hosted by Biofuels Digest. The speech is available for viewing on the Aemetis website.
“I am accepting this award not just for myself, but on behalf of the team at Aemetis and my industry colleagues who have worked to make a difference in renewable fuels policy, financing, feedstocks and production,” McAfee said. “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition, named to recognize the legacy of William Holmberg, an impactful bioeconomy leader.” The award memorializes William C. Holmberg, who advocated for energy security and renewable fuels in his roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as a long-term advisor to the American Council on Renewable Energy, and as Chairman of the Biomass Coordinating Council.
“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,” said Jim Lane, Editor and Publisher of Biofuels Digest. “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.”
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a diversified renewable natural gas and biofuels company focused on developing and operating innovative technologies that lower energy costs and reduce emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. The company owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Additionally, Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality biodiesel and refined glycerin. To utilize byproducts from ethanol production, Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel plant and a CO2 sequestration project in California.
The recognition of McAfee underscores the importance of leadership and persistence in the bioeconomy sector, which faces challenges such as policy shifts and market volatility. The award highlights the ongoing efforts to advance renewable fuels and reduce emissions, aligning with broader goals of energy security and environmental sustainability. As the industry continues to evolve, McAfee’s contributions serve as a benchmark for future innovators.
