Tidewater Transportation and Terminals cuts ribbon on biobased diesel distribution facility in Pasco, Washington

Photo: Tidewater Transportation and Terminals

Tidewater Transportation and Terminals hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 11 to mark the official opening of its terminal expansion, including a full-service biobased diesel distribution facility at the Snake River Terminal in Pasco, Washington.

The event celebrated a significant step in the region’s transition toward cleaner-energy solutions.

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse and Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service administrator, were among the attendees, as well as representatives from Sens. Maria Cantwell and Ron Wyden’s offices.

Tidewater received a $3.1 million grant from the USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program to support the facility, which will significantly expand the availability of biodiesel across central and eastern Washington, Oregon and northern Idaho.

This investment will enhance the terminal’s capacity to receive biodiesel by rail, blend it on-site, and distribute it via truck to meet increasing regional demand for renewable energy.

“Today, we celebrate Tidewater’s new biofuels distribution facility, which will bring more economic opportunities for farmers and producers in the surrounding communities,” Londrigan said.

Aaron Degodny, Tidewater’s vice president and chief commercial officer, added, “We are grateful to the USDA and the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program for helping make this project possible. This project represents an exciting step in Tidewater’s efforts to contribute to our state’s and nation’s climate-commitment goals. We’re proud to be part of the solution, providing our customers with renewable energy options that help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.”

The Snake River Terminal’s expanded capacity will allow it to blend more than 2 million gallons of biodiesel per month, supporting the region’s transition to cleaner energy.

The facility’s strategic location and multimodal access to truck, rail, barge and pipeline make it an essential hub for distributing biodiesel to meet the energy needs of the Pacific Northwest, particularly during peak agricultural seasons.

“This federal investment supports Tidewater’s goal of establishing a regional distribution center for renewable energy resources,” Degodny said. “I want to thank the USDA and our members of the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation for their ongoing efforts and dedication to this project.”

The new facility is an essential part of Washington’s and Oregon’s goals to reduce carbon emissions.

Washington’s Clean Fuel Standard program aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 4.3 million metric tons over the next 15 years, while Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program sets ambitious targets for reducing transportation-related emissions.

With the expanded infrastructure, Tidewater is well-positioned to help meet the projected 150 percent increase in biobased diesel demand across the region.