Northeast Biodiesel
Northeast Biodiesel was a worker-cooperative biodiesel producer in Greenfield, MA that converted used cooking oil from member restaurants into ASTM D6751-compliant fuel sold in B2B blends to regional heating oil dealers, farmers, and fleet managers; the company ceased operations after federal biodiesel incentives were reduced.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersGreenfield, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Northeast Biodiesel does
Northeast Biodiesel, LLC was a single-site biofuel manufacturer operating a 1.75 million gallon-per-year biodiesel plant at 179 Silvio O. Conte Drive in Greenfield, MA, on a 26.5-acre industrial park parcel. The facility processed used cooking oil (UCO) feedstock sourced from 22+ member restaurants in western Massachusetts through the company's Community Biofuel Cycle program, converting it into ASTM D6751-compliant biodiesel via a Green Fuels FuelMatic processor, a British-made unit distinguished by sub-50 kWh/ton energy consumption, ~1:1 conversion yields, and the ability to handle both used vegetable and animal oils. Product was sold in B3, B20, and B100 blends exclusively through B2B channels - home heating oil dealers for residential distribution, and farmers and fleet managers for diesel-engine use - with no direct-to-consumer sales.
The business was structured as a worker-owned cooperative (NEB Workers Cooperative) within a multi-stakeholder cooperative framework, with majority ownership held by Co-op Power, a renewable energy cooperative with 475+ consumer members across New England and New York. Distribution leveraged Co-op Power's existing network of Community Energy Co-ops. Operations were led by General Manager Richard Durepo (former Monsanto/Solutia/Eastman Chemical R&D pilot plant manager) under President Lynn Benander, with the plant staffed at 14 personnel at full capacity. Total capital project cost was $4.2M, funded through community-based investments, a $200K Common Good Finance loan in 2015, and a $1.3M startup round in June 2022 from a syndicate of CDFIs (TLI, MassDev, LEAF, FCCDC, CFNE), with economic viability historically dependent on the federal $1/gallon biomass-based diesel blending credit.
The company commenced commercial biodiesel production in September 2022 following years of fundraising, balance-sheet restructuring, and a workforce cooperative formation in October 2021. The plant subsequently ceased operations after federal biodiesel incentives were reduced; the company's website states it has gone out of business as a result.
Northeast Biodiesel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northeast Biodiesel
- Legal name
- Northeast Biodiesel Corporation LLC
- Website
- https://northeastbiodiesel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Northeast Biodiesel was a worker-cooperative biodiesel producer in Greenfield, MA that converted used cooking oil from member restaurants into ASTM D6751-compliant fuel sold in B2B blends to regional heating oil dealers, farmers, and fleet managers; the company ceased operations after federal biodiesel incentives were reduced.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northeast Biodiesel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biodiesel Fuel Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (3241)
- SIC
- Fats & Oils (2070), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiesel (FAME) Production (EUAAAHAC)
Keywords
Where Northeast Biodiesel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Northeast Biodiesel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Biodiesel Sales to Heating Oil Dealers: Sold biodiesel to home heating oil dealers who blended it (typically B20 - 20% biodiesel with 80% heating oil) for distribution to residential customers. No direct consumer sales.
- Bulk Biodiesel Sales: Sold biodiesel in bulk quantities to farmers, fleet managers, and commercial diesel customers for use in diesel engines and transportation.
- Used Cooking Oil Collection Services: Collected used cooking oil (UCO/RVO) from member restaurants as feedstock, creating a closed-loop community biofuel cycle where restaurants were incentivized to recycle rather than dispose of waste oil.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Northeast Biodiesel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northeast Biodiesel operated a biofuel manufacturing plant in Greenfield, MA producing premium, ASTM D6751-compliant biodiesel from 100% recycled cooking oil using a FuelMatic processor. The company sold the fuel in B3, B20, and B100 blends to home heating oil dealers, farmers, fleet managers, and commercial diesel customers, while sourcing feedstock from member restaurants participating in its Community Biofuel Cycle program.
Product overview
Northeast Biodiesel operated a single-location biofuel manufacturing business producing premium biodiesel fuel from recycled cooking oil. The company operated a 1.75 million gallon per year production facility in Greenfield, MA using a FuelMatic biodiesel processor, with plans to expand capacity to 3.5 million gallons per year. The core product was ASTM D6751 compliant biodiesel available in various blends (B3, B20, B100) for use in oil heat systems and diesel engines. The company also ran the Community Biofuel Cycle program, collecting used cooking oil from member restaurants and converting it to biodiesel for distribution through Co-op Power. Note: The company has since gone out of business due to drops in federal incentives for biodiesel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Premium Biodiesel Fuel High-quality renewable fuel produced from recycled cooking oil via transesterification, suitable for use in any oil-heat system or diesel engine without modification. Offered in B3, B20, and B100 blends.
- ASTM D6751 Compliant Biodiesel Biodiesel meeting the US standard ASTM D6751, produced at the Greenfield facility from used cooking oil feedstock for sale to heating oil dealers, farmers, and fleet managers.
- Community Biofuel Cycle Program Closed-loop feedstock collection and biodiesel distribution program linking member restaurants supplying used cooking oil with community members using the resulting biodiesel for oil-heat systems and diesel engines.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum diesel and gasoline over the fuel lifecycle
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Northeast Biodiesel
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Northeast Biodiesel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Northeast Biodiesel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- NEB Workers CooperativecoreWorker-owned cooperative contracted to provide operational staffing for the plant. Workers became owners by purchasing equity shares paid out of annual patronage distributions. Founded October 21, 2021 to eventually become co-owners of the plant alongside Co-op Power.
- Elevate Small BusinessmajorTechnical assistance arm of LEAF providing consulting and capital advisory services. Acted as financial advisor to Northeast Biodiesel during the $1.3 million funding round.
- Wellspring CooperativeminorBased in Springfield, MA, provided cooperative development assistance to Northeast Biodiesel during restructuring and launch phases.
- Jason Wiener p.c.minorLaw firm based in Cambridge, MA & Shoreham, VT providing legal assistance during the funding and restructuring process.
- Moulton Law GroupminorLaw firm based in Burlington, VT providing legal assistance during the funding and restructuring process.
- Flanders Law OfficesminorLaw firm based in Shelburne Falls, MA providing legal assistance during the funding and restructuring process.
- Green FuelscoreBritish manufacturer of the FuelMatic biodiesel processor used at the Northeast Biodiesel plant. The processor is unique in its ability to process both vegetable and animal oils with low energy consumption and high yield.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Northeast Biodiesel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Black Bear Biofuel: Maine-based small-scale biodiesel producer using regional waste oils to supply local heat and transport — directly comparable small-scale, northern U.S., heating-oil-oriented biodiesel operator.
- Pacific Biodiesel: Community-scale biodiesel producer founded in Hawaii and now operating multi-state, focused on UCO feedstock and local fuel distribution — same small-scale, feedstock-flexible, community-linked profile as Northeast Biodiesel.
- SeQuential: Pacific Northwest biodiesel producer that collects used cooking oil from restaurants and converts it to biodiesel for regional fuel and heating markets — directly comparable UCO-to-biodiesel closed-loop model.
- Crimson Renewable Energy: Small-to-mid-scale U.S. biodiesel producer converting waste oils and tallow into B100 biodiesel for fuel and heating markets — directly comparable feedstock, product, and end-use mix to Northeast Biodiesel.
Broad incumbents
- Darling Ingredients: Global renderer collecting used cooking oil and animal fats and converting them to feed, fuel (including biodiesel feedstock), and specialty ingredients — comparable in feedstock (UCO/tallow) handling and downstream energy use.
- Renewable Energy Group (now part of Chevron / Diamond Green Diesel): Largest U.S. biodiesel producer historically (now integrated with Chevron) — operates industrial-scale biodiesel and renewable diesel; relevant as the large-scale U.S. competitor whose economics dwarf Northeast Biodiesel.
- Neste: Global leader in renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA) made from waste fats and oils — directly comparable feedstock (UCO/tallow) but at multi-million-ton scale; sets the competitive ceiling that small FAME producers must clear.
Others
- Baker Commodities: U.S. renderer and UCO collector that aggregates used cooking oil from restaurants — adjacent player that competes for the same feedstock community as Northeast Biodiesel and often supplies it to industrial biodiesel producers.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Northeast Biodiesel social profiles
Digital presenceNortheast Biodiesel compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Northeast Biodiesel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northeast Biodiesel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Northeast Biodiesel subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Northeast Biodiesel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northeast Biodiesel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northeast Biodiesel
What does Northeast Biodiesel do?
Northeast Biodiesel operated a biofuel manufacturing plant in Greenfield, MA producing premium, ASTM D6751-compliant biodiesel from 100% recycled cooking oil using a FuelMatic processor. The company sold the fuel in B3, B20, and B100 blends to home heating oil dealers, farmers, fleet managers, and commercial diesel customers, while sourcing feedstock from member restaurants participating in its Community Biofuel Cycle program.
Is Northeast Biodiesel a public or private company?
Northeast Biodiesel is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was Northeast Biodiesel founded?
Northeast Biodiesel was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Northeast Biodiesel based?
Northeast Biodiesel is headquartered in Greenfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northeast Biodiesel make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Biodiesel Sales to Heating Oil Dealers are the primary driver. The others are bulk Biodiesel Sales and used Cooking Oil Collection Services.
Who are Northeast Biodiesel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Black Bear Biofuel, Pacific Biodiesel, SeQuential and Crimson Renewable Energy. Broad incumbents are Darling Ingredients, Renewable Energy Group (now part of Chevron / Diamond Green Diesel) and Neste. Baker Commodities is listed as an others.
Does Northeast Biodiesel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northeast Biodiesel.
What industry is Northeast Biodiesel in?
Northeast Biodiesel's product category is Biodiesel Fuel Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAHAC, Biodiesel (FAME) Production. Its NAICS code is 3241 and its SIC code is 2070.