Pioneers of progress: Annual awards honor champions of clean fuels
Three industry leaders are being recognized in San Diego Jan. 20-23 during the 2025 Clean Fuels Conference for their outstanding efforts in advancing biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
“In an industry that is rapidly changing with unprecedented growth, it takes strong leadership to ensure success,” said Donnell Rehagen, the CEO of Clean Fuels Alliance America. “We are proud to acknowledge this year’s recipients for their vision that continues to drive demand for cleaner fuels.”
The 2025 Clean Fuels Awards honorees are:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Floyd Vergara
Floyd Vergara has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his transformative contributions to the clean-fuels industry and environmental policy.
As one of the chief architects of California’s groundbreaking Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Vergara played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most impactful climate policies in the nation’s history.
The LCFS revolutionized environmental outcomes by driving significant reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions and fostering innovation in clean energy.
Today, thanks to this visionary policy, biodiesel and renewable diesel account for an extraordinary 75 percent of California’s diesel pool.
During his 30 years at the California Air Resources Board, Vergara advanced from staff engineer to overseeing key regulations on industrial sources, alternative fuels, and cap and trade.
Vergara most recently led Clean Fuels’ state-affairs team, successfully elevating state-level initiatives as a cornerstone of market growth for clean fuels.
His enduring legacy is a testament to the power of forward-thinking policy to catalyze industry transformation and environmental progress.
Initiative Award: California Advanced Biofuels Alliance
The California Advanced Biofuels Alliance has been a long-term strategic partner in establishing the parameters that have helped drive biomass-based diesel use along the West Coast.
As the primary advocate for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers and manufacturers in the region, CABA actively supports initiatives such as the LCFS that position California as the leading market for clean fuels.
The Initiative Award recognizes CABA’s impactful collaboration among industry stakeholders, ensuring that clean fuels remain a competitive and viable solution for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in the transportation sector.
Thanks to CABA’s impactful educational, marketing and policy initiatives, California continues to be a pivotal market for this industry.
Industry Partnership Award: Union Pacific
Union Pacific delivers essential goods to families and businesses across 23 western states with a commitment to safety, reliability and efficiency.
Leveraging the advantages of rail transport to connect communities to the global economy, Union Pacific’s dedication to protecting future generations aligns with its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmentally responsible practices.
With locomotive fuel accounting for over 94 percent of its direct greenhouse-gas emissions, Union Pacific views biodiesel and renewable diesel as key components of its decarbonization strategy increasing use to 10 percent of its total diesel consumption by 2025.
As the first Class I railroad to join Clean Fuels, Union Pacific is helping to expand the biofuel market connecting feedstock producers to refineries and delivering renewable fuels to end-use markets—all at a lower cost and carbon intensity.
The Industry Partnership Award highlights Union Pacific’s ongoing collaboration fueling the rail industry’s growing interest in sustainable fuel solutions.
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