Biodiesel now available at fuel terminal in Alamosa, Colo.

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Fuel distributors in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico now can obtain large volumes of biodiesel at a terminal in Alamosa, Colo., according to Renewable Energy Group. B99.9 — 0.1 percent petroleum diesel and 99.9 percent biodiesel — or customer-specified biodiesel blends — B2-B99 — are available by the truckload from a 20,000-gallon tank at 615 State Ave. in Alamosa.

This is the second terminal announcement by Renewable Energy Group in the Rocky Mountain PAD 4 District in recent months; in November, the company began offering biodiesel at a terminal in Ogden, Utah. The company says REG-9000 brand biodiesel is available at Alamosa as part of its national infrastructure plan; Renewable Energy Group has a strategic agreement with Alta Fuels, a petroleum company and biodiesel marketer, to offer blending of petroleum diesel with REG-9000 biodiesel at the site.

Company officials cite the upcoming Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as one driver of biodiesel demand. “The RFS calls for 500 million gallons of biodiesel to be used in the U.S. in 2009,” says Gary Haer, vice president of sales and marketing for Renewable Energy Group, based in Ames, Iowa. “This biodiesel blending facility allows petroleum distributors in Colorado, New Mexico and throughout the Southeast to make biodiesel blends available now in preparation for implementation of the RFS later this year.”

Haer says the Colorado terminal is just one piece of Renewable Energy Group’s strategic plan to increase biodiesel availability. “We are committed to meeting U.S. demand for biodiesel through infrastructure creation,” he says. “REG currently markets biodiesel to all 48 continental states, and with this and other strategic terminal locations, REG is able to extend our biodiesel product offering. We aim to help our petroleum distribution customers more quickly access high-quality biodiesel to meet their customers’ demands.”

Renewable Energy Group says it offers biodiesel at more than 20 other locations nationwide, and that its REG-9000 biodiesel exceeds ASTM specifications for biodiesel regardless of the feedstock. Every load of B99.9 comes with a certificate of analysis outlining product quality, according to the company; Alta Fuels has an on-site laboratory to help facilitate quality throughout the biodiesel supply chain.

The Alamosa terminal is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for biodiesel pickup. To order a load of biodiesel, set up an account and receive pricing, petroleum distributors should call 515-239-8082 or 515-239-8040.