A new bulk renewable diesel depot is set to open this summer in Barstow.
T Bros Oil & Gas Co. recently announced the project, which marks a significant step in sustainable logistics, according to company officials. The company also expects the depot to stimulate economic growth within the Southern California transportation corridor, reinforcing Barstow’s role in the region’s supply chain.
The depot is located at 2957 Lenwood Road, which formerly housed Yellow Corp. trucking company and the American Quartz Group facility, the Daily Press reported.
The BNSF connection
The depot will be a cornerstone for clean energy innovation, the company stated.
The depot also aligns with the Barstow International Gateway project (BIG), a $1.5 billion, 4,800-acre rail yard, intermodal facility, and logistics park set to begin construction in late 2026, company officials stated.
The BNSF project is expected to create an estimated 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, including roles in rail operations, logistics and supporting industries.
“By launching ahead of BIG, the depot proactively addresses the anticipated surge in clean fuel demand driven by this development,” the company stated.
T Bros Oil & Gas Co. believes the depot’s location near Interstate 15 and Highway 58 aligns with Barstow’s 2048 Growth Plan, which prioritizes industrial development in this corridor, enhancing the region’s established role as a critical fuel distribution point via the Kinder Morgan CALNEV pipeline.
Through its Pacific Operations unit, Kinder Morgan operates approximately 3,000 miles of refined products pipeline that serves Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Texas.
Kinder Morgan is the largest products pipeline in the Western U.S., transporting more than 1 million barrels per day of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel to customers, the company stated.
“The depot is engineered for high-volume wholesale distribution, initially offering conventional Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel through the Kinder Morgan pipeline in Summer 2025,” the company stated.
The facility will be equipped with systems for rack loading, blending, storage, and high-capacity throughput. The facility will open with two loading racks, expanding to six by year-end, according to company officials.
Mini-refinery
By late 2025, a “mini-refinery” will be added to the facility for the production of renewable diesel, the company stated.
The company listed the following benefits of this new type of fuel refinery:
The renewable diesel is a premium “drop-in” biofuel, chemically identical to petroleum diesel by meeting ASTM D975 standards, company officials said.
It requires no engine modifications or infrastructure upgrades, lowering barriers for logistics companies adopting sustainable fuels. It also supports vehicle performance and compliance with California’s stringent environmental regulations, company officials said.
“This depot is a cornerstone of sustainable commerce,” CTO Timothy Wetzel said. “It supports the growth driven by the Barstow International Gateway while enabling businesses to achieve environmental and operational excellence, cementing Barstow’s transformation into a premier green logistics hub for California and beyond.”
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow to get state-of-the-art renewable diesel depot, powering growth in $1.5B BNSF hub
Reporting by Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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