(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Kuboushek)
B99 hits the road in Iowa
July 31, 2025 | Bethany Baratta
Heads turned as Adam King pulled up to the pump in his Wild Cherry Pepsi-branded semi. At the Pilot Travel Center, onlookers watched as he filled the tank with nearly 100% biodiesel — proving this was no ordinary day on the job.
On May 29, Iowa's first above-ground B99 fueling pump officially opened for business — offering a blend of 99% biodiesel and just 1% diesel.
"Coast to coast, north to south, we try our very best to put biodiesel, renewable diesel and ethanol into every molecule of fuel we sell at Pilot," says Eric Fobes, head of renewables at Pilot Flying J.
The installation of the pump represents a core pillar for the company — shaping the future
of energy.
"To me and our customers it's important that we are offering decarbonized solutions," Fobes says. "This is one of those offers."
Fueling progress
The ribbon-cutting event marked progress in the biofuels space.
"This ribbon cutting isn't just for a new pump — it's a milestone worth celebrating for what it represents: real, on-the-ground progress in America's transition to cleaner fuels," says Dave Walton, a farmer and member of both Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Soybean Association's Board of Directors. The Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Biodiesel Board contributed $25,000 in checkoff funding to this project.
The collaboration speaks to the partnerships that are helpful in increasing the demand for biodiesel, thereby increasing the demand for Iowa-grown soybeans.
"Biodiesel is critical to Iowa's farm economy. It adds real value to every bushel of soybeans we grow — up to 13 percent — supporting local jobs, driving demand, and giving us an economic edge," Walton says.
In 2024, Iowa's then-10 operating biodiesel plants produced an estimated 350 million gallons, making it the top biodiesel-producing state. A study by Decision Innovation Solutions shows contributions to all sectors of the state's economy, including:
$123 million in labor income in Iowa, $520 million in value added and $2.2 billion in output (total sales).
Blends of 20% biodiesel (B20) and higher more than doubled in Iowa's on-road diesel sales last year, growing to 35% in 2024, according to Walton.
Availability
Situated just five minutes away from PepsiCo's Urbandale plant, the Pilot Travel Center location is ideal for drivers like King and others who aspire to use cleaner fuel options like B99.
"This station is a major win for sustainable energy, helping to make low carbon solutions more accessible," says Sarah Towles, senior director of government affairs for PepsiCo.
PepsiCo's semis are equipped with Optimus Technologies' Vector System which enables heavy-duty diesel engines to operate on 100% biodiesel (B100), resulting in a substantial decrease in CO2 emissions by 85-95%, according to Karl Thomas, an account executive for Optimus Technologies, based in Pittsburgh. Since 2018, Optimus Technologies has equipped more than 1,200 new and existing trucks with the Vector System, allowing for greater use of lower carbon fuels, like biodiesel.
B99 on site
Benecor made the B99 delivery system possible through the Pilot Travel Center, situated between Douglas Avenue and Interstate 35 near Des Moines. The Benecor station delivers a fully insulated and heated turnkey biodiesel storage and dispensing system for efficient, all-weather operation. The system, engineered in Michigan, enables on-site blending of biodiesel and diesel, offering a cost-effective way to meet high biofuel blend rates without needing additional underground infrastructure.
Benecor owner Brendan Foster says demand for the system his company manufactures demonstrates the demand for higher blends of biodiesel.
"We're talking to other folks out there who are also asking how they can get the higher biofuel rates," Foster says. "On-site blending means we're able to provide a fairly inexpensive approach for the Pilots of the world to take advantage of available credits and offer now another outlet for biodiesel."
Written by Bethany Baratta.
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