The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office has marked its calendar. On June 17, 2026, AFFO announced it will host its 2027 Peer Review Meeting during the week of April 19, 2027, in Arlington, Virginia — the office’s first such gathering since a recent DOE reorganization reshaped how the agency oversees alternative fuels and feedstocks research.
AFFO announces 2027 Peer Review Meeting date and location
The announcement came on June 17, 2026, when AFFO officially confirmed the meeting details. The Peer Review Meeting is scheduled for the week of April 19, 2027, giving researchers, industry professionals, and government staff nearly a year to prepare. Arlington, Virginia, will serve as the host city.
AFFO has indicated that additional details and registration information will be posted on the dedicated 2027 AFFO PRM webpage. Those interested in attending or participating should monitor that page as the event approaches. No further logistical details have been released at this time.
DOE reorganization created AFFO and the broader CMEI office
The 2027 meeting carries particular weight because of the structural changes that preceded it. Earlier in 2026, the Department of Energy underwent a reorganization that established the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, known as CMEI—a broad restructuring with direct consequences for how alternative fuels and feedstocks research is organized within the agency.
AFFO was created within CMEI as part of that reorganization. The new office consolidated existing research, development, and demonstration portfolios that had previously been housed in hydrogen and bioenergy technologies programs—bringing them together under a single, unified structure.
The 2027 Peer Review Meeting will be the first such gathering to evaluate projects since AFFO’s formation. In that sense, it functions as a debut for the newly structured office and an opportunity to present work conducted under its combined mandate.
The meeting will evaluate AFFO-funded projects and facilitate stakeholder exchange
Peer review meetings serve a specific function within the DOE framework. The 2027 PRM will evaluate office-funded projects for their contributions to DOE’s broader goals—a structured assessment process built around progress and accountability, not ceremony.
The meeting is also designed to encourage real dialogue. National Lab experts, industry stakeholders, and DOE staff will exchange perspectives on emerging technologies, a cross-sector conversation that has long defined this event’s format. Discussions will center on the production and use of domestic feedstocks, fuels, and chemicals, with the combined hydrogen and bioenergy portfolio—now operating under AFFO—aimed at expanding affordable and reliable energy options for businesses and consumers. The peer review format gives all parties a shared space to examine how funded projects are advancing those goals.
AFFO’s mandate: Mobilizing biomass and hydrogen resources
AFFO’s combined portfolio is built around a clear national resource opportunity. The office targets America’s domestic biomass and hydrogen potential — two energy sources the DOE views as central to broadening the country’s fuel options. Bringing these two research areas under one roof is intended to generate meaningful connections between them.
The office supports development of additional fuels, chemicals, and materials derived from domestic resources, with work that extends well beyond fuel production alone. Its broader goal is enabling a wider range of energy-related products sourced from American feedstocks. For consumers and businesses, AFFO’s mandate is explicitly framed around affordability and reliability—not simply adding volume to existing supply, but diversifying what is available in the market.
Mark April in your calendar
The core facts are straightforward. AFFO announced on June 17, 2026, that it will hold its 2027 Peer Review Meeting during the week of April 19, 2027, in Arlington, Virginia. It will be the first peer review event since the DOE reorganization that established both CMEI and AFFO earlier in 2026.
The event will evaluate AFFO-funded projects, bring together National Lab experts, industry stakeholders, and DOE staff, and focus on domestic feedstocks, fuels, and chemicals. Registration details and additional information will be made available on the 2027 AFFO PRM webpage as the date draws closer.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
