JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The National Biodiesel Board says interest in renewable biofuels among American truckers is growing as fast as the soy plants it takes to make the stuff.

The NBB — a US national trade association representing the biodiesel industry — says biodiesel pumps are springing across North America. Biodiesel is said to be a cleaner burning fuel that can be made from any fat or vegetable oil, such as soybean oil or animal fats, and works in any standard, unmodified diesel engine. It can be blended with petroleum diesel at any level or used in its pure form.

The NBB says it owes much of biodiesel’s growing popularity to the already popular country star Willie Nelson. The singer’s newly formed company, Willie Nelson Biodiesel, has opened several pumps at truck stops in the US. The pumps carry B20, a mixture of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel.

Company representatives say future plans include other truck stops carrying B20 along the east coast from Miami to Rochester. Biodiesel is available to truckers at other fueling sites throughout the US and Canada. Truckers can visit www.biotrucker.com/sites for a list of locations by state.

“Concerns about our growing dependence on Middle Eastern oil and Willie Nelson’s advocacy of biodiesel have helped propel awareness about biodiesel in the trucking industry,” said Joe Jobe, chief executive officer of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). “National energy initiatives are helping to make biodiesel more cost competitive, and each day we hear about new truckers who are interested in biodiesel’s benefits.

“We always knew biodiesel would appeal to truckers, but in such a cost sensitive market we have been a little surprised by the recent outpouring of support, even when blends cost more.”

In response to what it says is tremendous interest from the trucking industry, NBB has created a new website as a resource specifically for truckers (www.biotrucker.com). Biotrucker.com includes the latest information about biodiesel availability, trucker testimonials, technical information, discussion boards and other current news from the biodiesel industry.

Mike DeSimone, owner of Cross Creek Trucking in Central Point, Oregon began using B20 in 100 refrigerated Peterbilt 379 and Kenworth T-2000 trucks earlier this month. “We’re taking a stand to show farmers we will use their crops in hopes that they will continue producing,” DeSimone said.

Adds Greg Greving of Chapman, N.E. — owner of oversized and heavy equipment hauler G&G Farms: “I believe that one of the most important benefits of biodiesel is its increased lubricity,” said Greving, who uses B2 in his two Peterbilt 379s with Caterpillar engines.