Biodiesel pumps continue to satisfy demand

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Four companies have begun selling biodiesel fuel at various pumps in Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and California. Biodiesel Magazine highlights some of the new areas where the renewable fuel is available:

Jackson, Miss.-based Earth Biofuels Inc. opened the first biodiesel pump in the state at its Byram, Miss., service station Jan. 18. The station currently offers B5 and will move to B20 in March, according to Tommy Johnson, Earth Biofuels secretary and treasurer. The company also recently signed a letter of intent to merge with Dallas Oil Co. Johnson said Dallas Oil will allow Earth Biofuels to sell biodiesel at 60 fuel stations nationwide. Earth Biofuels produces its own biodiesel, currently 2,000 gallons of recycled vegetable oil per month, at a skid-frame refinery in Meridian, Miss.

In Laytonville, Calif., co-owners Kimber Holmes and Eric Vogt opened a public biodiesel pump at The BioFuel Station on Feb. 14. The station,
which previously sold biodiesel only in bulk, offers B100, allowing consumers to do their own blending. Holmes told Biodiesel Magazine approximately 90 percent of fill-and-go customers use B100 in their vehicles, while those who blend the renewable fuel typically do so at 50 percent. Yakayo Biofuels supplies The BioFuel Station with yellow gresase-based biodiesel, and Holmes is hoping to start distributing soy-based fuel. "[yellow grease-based biodiesel] is just what's available," Holmes said. The company plans to hold a grand opening for the pump March 18, also Rudolph Diesel's birthday.

At Indian River Marina in Rehoboth Beach, Del., B20 will be available to the boating public. Park Superintendent and Marina Manager Gary King told Biodiesel Magazine a $35,500 grant from the United Soybean Board through the Delaware Soybean Association will cover the conversion of a tank and dispenser to fuel boats with biodiesel-blended fuel at the dock. "I think we're the first in the mid-Atlantic region to offer biodiesel to the boating public," King said. Currently, the marina is in the midst of a $20 million renovation. Once it opens April 15, biodiesel sales will begin. Peninsula Oil of Seaford, Del., is Indian River Marina's biodiesel supplier.

Cincinnati-based Lykins Oil Co. has installed B2 pumps at four retail outlets in the local area, including across the border in Kentucky. After the pumps were added, company President Jeff Lykins said there was a 10 percent increase in diesel sales. "Consumers like it," he said. "Obviously, from the increase in sales, they want it." Griffin Industries and Peter Cremer supply Lykins with both soybean-based and recycled vegetable oil-based fuel.