We often get the question, where does Propel’s fuel come from?
Now is your chance to see some of the primary biodiesel fuel crops in bloom at our station in Downtown 
Seattle. Fuel sources change depending on the season, but Propel consistently provides the most local and sustainable fuels that meet our quality standards. The fuel Propel offers has demonstrated significant CO2 reduction, air quality benefits, and displacement of imported oil. Feedstocks currently on display at the station include:
Sunflower- Native to America, sunflowers grow throughout the country and supply high-quality oil for biodiesel. After sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds, the compacted seed husks are used as a nutritious addition to livestock feed. In this way, sunflower crops provide both oil for clean fuel and feed for food.
As an oilseed crop, sunflowers have the potential to produce twice as much oil per acre as soybeans.
Safflower- Adapted to dry climates, safflower does not require intensive irrigation relieving pressure on water resources. This brightly colored, thistle-like plant is primarily grown as an oilseed crop in California, Montana and the western Great Plains of the US.
Camelina - This non-edible oilseed crop grows efficiently on marginal lands, preserving prime acreage for higher value food crops and minimizing use of water resources. Fields of camelina crops are grown locally in Eastern Washington, as well as Eastern Oregon and areas of Montana. The dry climates of Southern California and Texas also bode well for camelina crop production. Seattle’s biotechnology industry is currently developing more efficient, higher-yield camelina varieties specifically optimized for biodiesel production.
Canola - Canola was developed in Canada as a low-acid oilseed alternative. Now grown throughout North America, Canola is an ideal feedstock for biodiesel production with a high oil content, and ability to grown on marginal land. Canola processed for biodiesel produces not only high-quality oil for clean fuel, but also meal used for high-protein food products. Locally grown food and fuel come from Washington and Oregon canola crops.
Other feedstocks not currently growing at the station include:
Soy – Soy is a primary income source for American farmers. Current biodiesel demand is met by surplus vegetable oil from canola and soy crops grown for livestock feed. Soy oil, a by-product of soy meal production, is a commonly used feedstock for biodiesel production. Producing both food and fuel, 80 percent of each soybean is used for food products, and 20% for oil. The U.S. could produce between 500 million and 1.0 billion gallons of biodiesel from the U.S. soy oil carryover and soy bean carry-over (the amount of soy oil and soybeans remaining from the previous harvest at the beginning of the current harvest year). Soy crops grow quickly and have a high oil content making the plant a reliable source for alternative fuel.
Tallow – Tallow is rendered agricultural by-product from the livestock and poultry industries. These animal fats are distilled into pure, high-performance biodiesel blends. According to the Industrial Agricultural Products Center, Nebraska alone produces about 1 billion pounds of tallow annually. Local refiners in Washington are producing quality tallow-based biodiesel.
Waste Grease - Waste grease is used vegetable oils from the cooking industry primarily from municipal waste systems, deep fryers and restaurant grease traps. Waste grease is a readily available source for biodiesel, with approximately 4 billion gallons produced in the US each year. The production of biodiesel from waste grease requires high quality production processes and controls to make ensure the fuel consistently meets the blendstock ASTM standard.
