Annual event Dec. 17 poised to continue building Minnesota’s biogas future
CROOKSTON, Minn. (December 2025) — With Minnesota at a rare crossroads between a growing demand for renewable energy and the untapped potential of organic waste streams, biogas will be the focus of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)’s 2025 Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable.
WHAT: Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable
WHEN: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. CT | Wednesday, Dec. 17
WHERE: The Machine Shop
Minneapolis, MN 55414
300 2nd St. SE
Virtual option available
REGISTER: Visit the event website for a complete agenda and to register for the event
The registration fee is $40 for the in-person event or $20 for the virtual option
This year’s roundtable will explore ways to secure Minnesota’s biogas future and preview a biogas roadmap that AURI will publish in 2026. The event will address the interconnected systems that drive biogas and renewable natural gas – from manure to landfills, food waste, wastewater, natural gas infrastructure, and more.
The day will have a lineup of three keynote speakers, featuring experts across the biogas industry, including:
- Lorenzo Rosa, Ph.D., Carnegie Science
- Michael Schuppenhauer, Ph.D., mcr Energy, LLC
- Heather Dziedzic, American Biogas Council
Along with keynote speakers, the roundtable will have two interactive panels to discuss policies that support revenue-generating infrastructure, reduce the cost of municipal waste handling, lower environmental impacts, and improve community resiliency.
The first panel, “Where Technology and Market Meet,” features:
- Jennifer Stokes, CenterPoint Energy
- Bill Keegan, P.E., Dem-Con Companies
- Jacob Ethen, City of St. Cloud Public Utilities
- Brad Anderson, City of St. Cloud
The second panel, “Advancing from Success,” features:
- Steve Grove, Avant Energy
- Michael Crinion, Ash Grove Dairy
- Joe Burke, VIRESCO
To foster greater connections before and during the event, there is a new feature available to attendees. Once registered online, attendees can see others who will be at the roundtable and preschedule 1:1 meetings.
The event is sponsored by CenterPoint Energy, Compeer Financial, Minnesota Department of Agriculture,
Xcel Energy, Vanguard Renewables, Avisen Legal, Minnesota Farmers Union, Cavanaugh Solutions, and BPC Instruments.
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ABOUT AURI
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is a nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate the expansion of the agricultural economy by empowering expanded uses and markets of agriculturally derived products. It accomplishes this by using science and technology to help develop new uses for agricultural products. It collaborates globally, acts regionally, and is known as an economic catalyst for Minnesota with a focus on bioindustrial products and food. AURI provides a broad range of services, including applied research and development, scientific assistance, and a targeted network across the value chain to foster collaboration. To learn more, visit auri.org.
