ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A new group has formed to help truckstop and travel-plaza operators add alternative fuels such as biodiesel to their forecourts.
NATSO Inc. has launched the Alternative Fuels Council, a subsidiary that is tasked with connecting retailers to the resources to sell alternative fuels and to help them navigate state and national regulations and incentives, such as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It will also help them forge a profitable strategy for securing supply and installing infrastructure for alternative fuels.
“The Alternative Fuels Council is designed to satisfy our industry’s need for expert, convenient and cost-effective solutions that help fuel retailers bring alternative fuels to market,” said Lisa Mullings, president and CEO of NATSO, Alexandria, Va. “The alternative-fuels market is an important growth opportunity for many fuel retailers nationwide, and both the fuel retailing industry and their customers will benefit from the collective resources and benefits of this endeavor.”
One of the council’s first efforts is the creation of a Biodiesel Fuel Quality Plan, designed to help ensure a minimum standard of biodiesel quality for those who blend, market and distribute these alternative-fuel blends. It offers a step-by-step guide to blending, addressing quality-management topics such as sampling procedures, protocols and proposed schedules, to help ensure that biodiesel meets fuel quality standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). This comes as reports of diesel quality issues have recently arisen from fuel retailers and their customers.
“Maintaining fuel quality is increasingly important to today’s fuel retailers amid the growing number of fuel offerings and renewable fuel blending options,” said Jeff Hove, fuel specialist for NATSO. “While certain accreditation and quality assurance can be provided by biodiesel producers and suppliers, it is imperative that fuel retailers remain vigilant regarding the quality of the finished product.”
Hove will serve as a main contact for fuel retailers at the Alternative Fuels Council. Click here for more information.
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