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Rank: 24
Why She Matters: Vinod Khosla (see No. 33) may have visions of reinventing the ethanol business, but Archer Daniels Midland thinks the old way of producing the stuff works just fine, thank you. The agribusiness giant is undertaking an alternative energy makeover, and Woertz, a veteran oil industry exec, is spearheading the effort to make more fuel from ADM corn. A former executive vice president at Chevron, Woertz moved into the CEO's office at ADM in May. Since then, she's been praising the synergies between "food, feed, and fuel." ADM is already the leading domestic producer of ethanol, and sky-high gasoline prices are making alternatives more attractive: The Bush administration has touted its commitment to ethanol, Detroit automakers prefer ethanol to other alternative sources, and high tariffs on Brazilian sugar ethanol should minimize foreign competition. ADM has announced plans to build two new ethanol fuel plants and two new biodiesel plants. As the company that used to call itself the "supermarket to the world" becomes an energy giant, Woertz should feel right at home.Patricia Woertz CEO, Archer Daniels Midland |
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