Refinery gas flares signal renewable biodiesel startup process: Global Clean Energy
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Refinery burns have been popping up at a facility off of Rosedale Highway for weeks now.
You can see giant flames burning in the Bakersfield sky from the Westside Parkway to Coffee Road and off of Rosedale Highway. They’re called refinery burns, also known as flaring, a safety measure used by California refineries to prevent dangerous gases from causing harm to the environment.
The flares signal a period of new activity at Kern County’s biggest refinery, owned by Global Clean Energy. In May 2020, Global Clean Energy acquired the refinery off Rosedale Highway. The goal is to convert the refinery to produce renewable biodiesel fuel.
The refinery has been quiet for years, and was way behind schedule. Global’s Vice President, Antonio D’Amico, says these refinery burns are part of the startup process.
In a statement to 17 News, D’Amico said,
We remain on track to commence commercial operations and to safely provide highly sustainable and ultra-low carbon finished fuels to the market; in doing so, we comply with all applicable safety and environmental regulations and maintain regular contact with all applicable agencies.
The goal is to produce zero-carbon fuels.
The company makes renewable diesel fuel by refining biofuels from the camelina plant and from used cooking oils. D’Amico says the start-up phase of the project began in mid-November.
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Refinery gas flares signal renewable biodiesel startup process: Global Clean Energy, source