T Bros Oil & Gas plans to hold a grand opening this summer for its state-of-the-art bulk renewable diesel depot in Barstow, California.
The cutting-edge facility marks a transformative step for sustainable logistics and economic growth within the vital Southern California transportation corridor, reinforcing Barstow’s role in the region’s supply chain, the company reported. The depot’s advanced infrastructure and strategic foresight is expected to position it as a cornerstone for clean energy innovation.
“This depot is a cornerstone of sustainable commerce,” T Bros CTO Timothy Wetzel said in a news release. “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.”
Located at 2957 Lenwood Rd., the depot aligns with the transformative Barstow International Gateway (BIG) project, a $1.5 billion, 4,800-acre rail yard, intermodal facility, and logistics park set to begin construction in late 2026. The BIG 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. Its prime location near I-15 and Highway 58 integrates 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.
The depot is engineered for high-volume wholesale distribution, initially offering conventional Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) through the Kinder Morgan pipeline this summer. Equipped with state-of-the-art systems for efficient rack loading, precise blending, secure storage, and high-capacity throughput, the facility opens with two loading racks, expanding to six by year-end, T Bros said. This modern infrastructure, adhering to rigorous safety and environmental standards, minimizes downtime for customer fleets and aligns with industry best practices for automated fuel terminals, ensuring rapid turnarounds and reliable supply.
By late 2025, a “mini-refinery” will be added to the facility for renewable diesel production. This is a new type of fuel refinery that introduces a new paradigm to the fuel industry:
- The equipment is safe to run without dangerous chemicals.
- No pollution escapes the machine to air, water, or the ground.
- The equipment scales to any desired throughput.
Renewable diesel is a premium “drop-in” biofuel, chemically identical to petroleum diesel by meeting ASTM D975 standards. It requires no engine modifications or infrastructure upgrades, lowering barriers for logistics companies adopting sustainable fuels. With enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, it supports improved vehicle performance and compliance with California’s stringent environmental regulations, ensuring operational stability in a green economy. This compatibility accelerates the adoption of cleaner fuels across the transportation sector.