National Biodiesel Day marks step forward for pure biodiesel in Des Moines, Iowa

Photo: Joseph L. Murphy, Iowa Soybean Association

On National Biodiesel Day celebrated March 18, the Iowa Biodiesel Board applauded companies that continue to embrace biodiesel as a low-carbon fuel.

Pilot chose the day to announce that new fuel pumps carrying at least B99 (99 percent biodiesel) will be available at three of its travel centers nationwide.

One of those pumps will be coming this spring to its travel center at 11957 Douglas Avenue in Des Moines, supported by the Iowa Soybean Association and IBB.

The pumps will be available to fleet customers, the company said.

“It is part of Pilot’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its guests and customers as the company works to help shape the future of energy,” Pilot said in a news release.

PepsiCo, with ambitious environmental goals and actions, is deploying trucks equipped with Optimus technology to seamlessly run pure biodiesel, including at its Des Moines distribution center.

PepsiCo plans to fuel up at the Pilot pump.

“This announcement is another sign of corporate confidence in the fuel, and we are excited to see them embrace higher levels of biodiesel,” said Grant Kimberley, executive director of IBB.

“Biodiesel just makes sense,” Kimberley added.

“It’s produced domestically, reduces carbon and supports the success of America’s hard-working soybean farmers,” he said.     

Also in celebration of National Biodiesel Day, which takes place on the anniversary of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday, IBB will randomly select three new people who join the organization’s supporters list to receive a complimentary copy of The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel.

The nonfiction book shines a spotlight on the historically transformative diesel engine and the man behind it—his rise to fame in the early 1900s, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of World War I.

Diesel was a staunch believer in using locally grown resources, like vegetable oil, as fuel.

Sign up during the month of March at IowaBiodiesel.org for a chance to win.