Biodiesel Pump Opens in Kansas City
Pump is first to make renewable diesel available to local residents

KANSAS CITY, Mo.– The next Kansas City resident to pop open a Budweiser may be drinking a beverage delivered on a truck fueled by cleaner-burning biodiesel.

United Beverage Company, a downtown Kansas City distributor for Anheuser-Busch, now fuels its fleet of 22 diesel delivery trucks with a blend of 20 percent biodiesel. James Brooks, Vice President of Sales for United Beverage, says the vehicles will fill up at the Valero station located at 201 West 6th Street. It’s the area’s first biodiesel retail outlet.

“This was an easy choice for us because biodiesel is good for the environment,” Brooks said. “We’re an urban wholesaler with lots of trucks on the streets downtown. Using biodiesel is something good we can do for ourselves and for our city.”

Biodiesel is made from renewable resources such as soybean oil and other fats and vegetable oils. It can be used in pure form or in a blend, and works in any diesel engine. The Valero station, owned by local company Maher Oil, sells B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel.

The Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition, Maher Oil, the City of Kansas City and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) kicked off the pump opening today. Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) also joined in the celebration.

“Renewable fuels such as biodiesel will assist our producers, increase our energy independence, create American jobs and, as an added benefit, they are good for the environment,” said Talent, who serves as Co-Chairman of the Renewable Fuels Caucus. “I applaud the producers, the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition, and the local business community for their commitment to create Missouri’s first major metropolitan-area biodiesel fueling station.”

Maher Oil Company, along with biodiesel producer West Central Soy, has directly supplied the City of Kansas City, Missouri with more than 1.3 million gallons of B20 annually for several years. City officials were on hand at the event to discuss their success with using B20 in 900 trucks and pieces of equipment. The City of Olathe and Kansas City Power & Light are other local users of B20.

“I believe using biodiesel is good for America, and frankly it’s also good for business,” said John Cook, owner of Maher Oil. “Carrying biodiesel has created new customers for us. We wouldn’t have large fleet customers like the city and the power company if we didn’t have biodiesel. I’m confident that opening this public pump will bring us more customers who believe using biodiesel is the right thing to do.”

Cook is giving motorists an incentive to give it a try. On Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, he’s selling B20 for 25 cents less per gallon than the going rate for diesel.

More than 700 filling stations make biodiesel and biodiesel blends available to the public nationwide. That includes a Conoco station that carries B20 in Jefferson City.

“Having this pump in downtown Kansas City is a big step towards helping us realize our goal of reducing consumption of foreign oil,” said Sam Swearngin, Missouri Co-Chair of the Kansas City Clean Cities Coalition. “It gives everyone with a diesel vehicle a choice.”

“This pump opening shows an important trend,” said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. “The automakers have begun marketing more diesel passenger cars. As more diesel passenger cars become available to consumers, we’ll see additional retail locations making biodiesel available. Pumps like this one will also draw in businesses with diesel delivery trucks, and will generate awareness for renewable fuel.”

About 1,500 petroleum distributors, like Maher, carry biodiesel. More than 600 fleets use biodiesel, including government, military, commercial and school bus fleets.

Biodiesel has become America’s fastest growing alternative fuel according to the Department of Energy. Biodiesel and biodiesel blends reduce emissions while offering similar performance to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel has the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. For every unit of energy used to make biodiesel, 3.2 units are gained.

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