Coffee and Conversation

Tom Roberts / West Coast Energy

Renewable fuel production is becoming a bigger focus in the Central Valley as projects launch that reinforce the region’s prominence in biofuels and renewable energy. West Coast Energy is one such company, with offices in Bakersfield and a renewable fuel production and loading terminal in McFarland.

West Coast Energy’s business originated as a socially responsible clean energy platform company. Its business is built around environmental sustainability and expanding the local workforce via job creation within Rural and Disadvantaged Communities. The company develops and operates advanced facilities for deriving bioenergy from local waste streams.

California has new regulations to reduce the amount of waste traditionally destined for our landfills. Now, much of this waste, including organic food waste and scraps, green waste, landscape trimmings, and tree trimmings must be repurposed or recycled to other uses.

West Coast Energy works with local municipalities to comply with new regulations by converting landfill waste to renewable bioenergy. The company is able to use not only organic food waste, green waste, and wood products but also plastic bottles and used tires for conversion into several forms of bioenergy.

Bioenergy has many forms, including renewable diesel fuel to meet mandates for replacing petroleum fossil fuels in trucks and ships, as well as and green hydrogen for city bus fleets and local delivery trucks. West Coast Energy has converted an idle 10 acre produce plant in McFarland into a biodiesel and renewable fuels plant and distribution facility, serving the commercial transportation industry. The c o m p a n y e m p l o y s more than 20 people involved in the production, storage, sales, and distribution of renewable fuel for highway transportation, agriculture, heavy machinery, and soon - maritime transport. The company is expanding operations, searching for other counties and municipalities to partner with in meeting California’s new landfill reductions.

Enthusiasm is running high as local success stories, such as the West Coast Energy project, spring up throughout the Central Valley. JD Gessin, CEO of West Coast Energy states it well, “A transition to clean energy is about making an investment in our future. If not us, Who? If not now, when?” Support for companies like West Coast Energy means support for our local communities, support for the renewable energy jobs they create, and the ongoing support for to improve our environment.