Texas Confronts Silent Threat to Backup Power as Diesel Fuel Degradation Risks Generator Reliability

As Texas faces ongoing grid reliability challenges, extreme weather events, and rapid expansion of data centers and critical facilities, attention is turning to diesel fuel quality as a significant vulnerability in backup power systems. In a recent episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie interviewed Whit Runion, founder of Fuel Perfect, LLC, about how fuel degradation threatens generators at hospitals, utilities, nursing homes, data centers, and public infrastructure throughout the state.

Runion explained that while most facilities maintain generator engines rigorously, the fuel itself frequently receives inadequate attention despite accounting for one-third of what makes an engine function. Since a 2014 Environmental Protection Agency mandate shifted diesel to ultra-low sulfur fuel, shelf life has decreased substantially, creating new vulnerabilities within storage tanks that often remain undetected until generators are needed most during emergencies. "Diesel doesn't fail loudly," Runion stated. "It fails silently—through water, particulate, and microbial growth that clogs filters and shuts engines down."

The discussion highlighted fuel polishing as a solution, describing the process as similar to dialysis for diesel. This method removes contaminants using filtration, centrifugal separation, and magnetic conditioning, restoring fuel quality without requiring replacement. The approach provides a cost-effective alternative to draining and replacing fuel, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars and create dangerous periods without backup power during maintenance. McKenzie connected the issue to broader Texas infrastructure challenges, including lessons from Winter Storm Uri, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence-driven data centers, and increasing reliance on diesel generation to support grid demand.

Some facilities now operate dozens of generators with hundreds of thousands of gallons of stored fuel, amplifying both financial and operational risks. The episode revealed that even brand-new generators face contamination risks, as fuel tanks fabricated off-site and transported long distances often arrive with moisture and debris that can cause failures during initial startup of expensive equipment. Fuel Perfect's work extends along the I-35 corridor and beyond, serving hospitals, utilities, data centers, assisted living facilities, and industrial sites. Beyond service delivery, Runion emphasizes education, working with facilities teams, engineers, and risk managers to integrate fuel maintenance into annual preparedness planning.

"This is about resilience," McKenzie noted. "Preparedness isn't just owning a generator—it's knowing it will work when everything else doesn't." The full interview provides practical insight into how infrastructure risk is evolving in Texas and why fuel maintenance is becoming essential to emergency readiness, economic resilience, and public safety. The episode is available on YouTube as part of The Building Texas Show, a statewide interview series examining the people, systems, and ideas shaping Texas's future. Watch the full episode on YouTube for more conversations about infrastructure, economic development, and Texas's trajectory.