The first-ever biodiesel fuel card has been unveiled. National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF) today introduced the BioTrucker Fuel Card, which highlights the availability of biodiesel with a network of truck stops that carry biodiesel.
This press release from the National Biodiesel Board, the parent group for the NBF, says the card allows truckers and fleets pay a cash price (while having the convenience of a credit card) on all fuel and no fuel transaction fees for biodiesel at in-network of 4900 truck accessible retail stations across the U.S. In addition, Sapp Bros. Travel Centers (Peru Ill.), Waddy Unocal 76 (Waddy, Ky.) and Drivers Truck Stop (Ft. Worth, Texas) are giving card holders a two-cent-a-gallon discount:
“Being one of the first truck stops to offer a discount for BioTrucker Fuel Card holders is very exciting to us,” said Kevin Cassidy, Marketing Manager, Sapp Bros. Travel Centers. “We are huge supporters of biodiesel and this program will generate interest and awareness.”
The initial in-network list of 149 truck stops will continue to grow as more truck stops sell biodiesel and accept the BioTrucker Fuel Card. In-network truck stops include large chains and independent stops.
“We are pleased that our stop is part of the BioTrucker Fuel Card network,” said Karlene Saunders, Owner, Stockton Travel Centers. “This is a great program for helping truckers find biodiesel.”
The BioTrucker Fuel Card gives trucking companies and owner operators an easy way to pay for fuel, access cash advances, and pay for repairs and other expenses while on the road. Card holders pay the cash price for all fuel, instead of a credit price. ProMiles mapping software is a partner that provides incentives for using its software – the only mapping software for the trucking industry that shows biodiesel locations. Discounts on repairs and tires as well as road side assistance are also available through the card.
Those who want to sign up for the Biotrucker Fuel Card and to find out more information can click on the BioTrucker.com web site.
A company with ambitious plans to have ethanol plants in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska is now planning to file for bankruptcy after being unable to raise $1.5 million in necessary interim financing.
Orion plans to convert the facility into a fully integrated renewable fuels campus in three phases over 3 years. The first phase will convert the corn fructose wet milling facility into a 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant and 10 million gallon per year edible oil extraction facility. Phases two and three will consist of adding a 10 million gallon per year cellulose-to-ethanol process, a 12 million gallon per year biodiesel plant, a 25,000 ton per year yeast plant, and a 60-75 Megawatt wind and biomethane based electrical generation facility. The asset purchase brings with it approximately 1,200 surrounding acres and a wind lease agreement. 
“I think this community should feel really good about the effort that has gone into the successful completion of this plant. What I’ve been told is every segment of this community got behind this effort and supported it,” Strickland said. “This is the result of people working together to accomplish something that is good for everyone. It’s going to be good for the farmers, the agriculture community in Ohio will benefit as a result of this plant.”
A Nebraska biodiesel plant that was under construction up until the middle of February, just weeks short of its completion, looks like it will be completed.
Bud Cummins, U.S. Canadian Biofuels CEO, said Monday a recent agreement with Home Federal Savings Bank, which issued the construction loan for Beatrice Biodiesel, will allow Beatrice Biodiesel to liquidate certain collateral currently securing the loan to provide a cash pool to complete the core construction at the plant.
There could be some new investors taking over the biodiesel operations of an Illinois soybean miller.
Willie Nelson’s BioWillie biodiesel fuel, which is already sold in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, California and Tennessee, will add a key location when Willie’s Place at Carl’s Corner, Texas, opens this summer. The truck stop, built on the site of the first outlet to carry BioWillie, is located just off busy truck route I-35, which runs from the Mexican to the Canadian border. Billed as the biggest green truck stop in the United States, the facility will include 13 islands and 26 pumps, and all fuel sold there will have some percentage of biofuel, ranging from 5% to 85%.
Ethanol producer Golden Grain Energy of Mason City, Iowa is looking at getting into the biodiesel business by the end of the year.
At the recent Ethanol 2008: Emerging Issues Forum I spoke with Phil Lampert, Executive Director,