Golden Gate Petroleum to supply renewable diesel to California state agencies

A new contract between the State of California and Golden Gate Petroleum may help the state make a huge leap towards meeting its aggressive emission goals.

The emission targets were mandated by Governor Jerry Brown’s executive order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 40% lower than 1990 levels by the year 2030.

The agreement will convert one of the largest fleets in the US to renewable diesel (RD99).

Governor Brown announced in early December that all state agencies will now be required to purchase renewable diesel for their fleets of diesel-powered vehicles and equipment.

Golden Gate Petroleum (GGP) was selected by the California Department of General Services (DGS) to be the largest of the suppliers to the state.

‘GGP wants to congratulate the State of California for making such a strong commitment towards fighting climate change by converting their entire diesel fleet to renewable diesel,’ says Pat O'Keefe, owner of GGP and Nexgen Fuel.  

The two-year contract will have the company providing 80% of the state agencies with Nexdiesel renewable diesel by Nexgen Fuels.

In a statement released by DGS, the agency estimates the use of renewable diesel to bring an estimated annual 44,500 tonne reduction of carbon intensity when compared to petroleum diesel.

‘By using green or renewable diesel fuels, the state can further reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions connected to government operations. This directive to state agencies will help us meet the governor’s goals for combating climate change,’ says DGS director Daniel C. Kim.

The contract announcement comes in support of the California Governor’s continuing efforts to meet climate change goals set by his administration.

Governor Brown signed Executive Order B-30-15 earlier this year setting a state target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to levels 40% lower than 1990 levels by year 2030, and 80% lower than 1990 levels by the year 2050.

For the past two years, Golden Gate Petroleum has been working closely with Neste, the world's largest producer of renewable diesel, to make this fuel available to both public and private fleets in California.

Renewable diesel has the same chemical properties as petroleum diesel and it also meets the petroleum diesel specification (ASTM D975), allowing fleets to seamlessly switch with no additional investment or engine modifications.

In addition, renewable diesel burns cleaner, meaning less maintenance costs and reduced emissions.
 
Golden Gate Petroleum was one of the first to market Neste’s NEXBTL renewable diesel in the US, making the fuel available to commercial fleets throughout California in early 2013.

Nexgen Fuel was formed by Patrick O’Keefe in 2015 with a mission is to identify and bring next-generation alternative fuels to the marketplace.

Nexgen’s first fuel is Neste’s NEXBTL renewable diesel, which it is selling under the name Nexdiesel.