Propel Partners with PC&F to Expand Renewable Fuel Access Across Western U.S.

Propel Fuels' Redwood City, CA, Clean Fuel Point

Last week, Propel Fuels announced a multi-year agreement with Pacific Convenience & Fuels (PC&F) to co-locate Clean Fuel Points (renewable fuel stations) with PC&F gas stations and convenience stores throughout the Western U.S.

The largest deal of its kind, the new agreement will provide renewable fuel choice to America’s most underserved market. According to Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels:

“This first of its kind agreement allows us to quickly scale our business, opening the door to renewable fuel access across the Western U.S., America’s most underserved market for renewable fuels. And with U.S. automakers significantly increasing production of Flex Fuel and diesel vehicles, we will give customers true choice at the pump, making progress towards reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and lowering carbon emissions.”

Propel and PC&F have identified more than 80 potential locations for Clean Fuel Points throughout PC&F’s network of 300 stations in California, Washington, Oregon and Colorado, which operate under various brands including Chevron, 76, Conoco and Circle K. Propel’s partnership with PC&F will provide consumers and fleets across the Western states with greater access to renewable fuels and enable both companies to accelerate expansion plans.

To expand public access to renewable fuels, Propel is working in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission on station development programs such as California’s Low Carbon Fuel Infrastructure Investment Initiative. As advanced biofuel production facilities break ground in California, Propel’s agreement with PC&F will provide the next phase of fueling locations crucial to meeting the goals of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

Learn more about Propel Fuels and PC&F online at www.propelfuels.com and www.pcandf.com, respectively.

FREEDOM Film Tour Fueled by Ethanol

This month marks the start of the FREEDOM Film Tour - a nationwide tour of screenings for the new, renewable fuel-focused documentary FREEDOM. 

The latest labor of love from filmmakers Josh & Rebecca Tickell – the duo behind the 2008 award-winning documentary FUEL – FREEDOM takes place in the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Moved to action by the physical and emotional impact of the  spill, Josh and Rebecca take an international journey to investigate alternatives to fossil fuels.

As Patrick Robinson of the West Seattle Herald writes in the film’s first review:

“FREEDOM makes a completely compelling case that by converting our dependence on oil to a literally home grown source of energy we achieve several goals. First we improve our economy by spending energy dollars here, second we create more jobs, third we base our energy needs on a renewable resource (corn and biomass), fourth we reduce our impact on the environment.”

After kicking off in the Pacific Northwest, the tour will make its way - via the ethanol-fueled FREEDOM Bus – down the coast of California this week before heading through most major cities from Phoenix to Washington DC.

Propel is excited to join Josh, Rebecca and company in celebrating FREEDOM at its San Diego, CA, premiere tomorrow, August 12th, at the AMC Mission Valley theaters at 7pm. To join us at this screening, visit the San Diego premiere Facebook page.

For more information on FREEDOM, to view a full tour schedule or to buy the DVD, visit the FREEDOM Film online - and be sure to connect with fellow FREEDOM fans on Facebook.

71st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to Feature E85 Bike

We loved it when the now-infamous father-son team at Orange County Choppers rolled out America’s First Renewable Fuel Chopper in 2008 (pictured left). A true flex fuel bike, the Chopper ran on E85 and was custom-designed for the Iowa Farm Bureau to promote the use of domestically produced, renewable fuels.

Now, thanks to the 71st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at the Legendary Buffalo Chip campgrounds in South Dakota, a motorcycle fueled by American-made E85 will take the spotlight once again. Thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association’s continued sponsorship, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about using ethanol fuels for motorcycles; win renewable fuel merchandise; and have their photo snapped with the E85-powered bike (against a Buffalo Chip logo background, of course).

According to a quote from Buffalo Campground Sponsorship Director Lon Nordbye, as posted on DomesticFuel.com, “The Chip is excited to continue its partnership with the RFA and show our rally attendees that they can have a choice in fuel, no matter what their engine type is.”

For more information on this year’s event, visit the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally website. To learn more about ethanol fuels and the Renewable Fuels Association, visit www.ChooseEthanol.com.

Chevy to offer diesel Cruze in US

Tired of having limited options in diesel passenger cars? We’ve got great news from GM. Chevrolet announced plans to bring a diesel model of the popular Cruze compact to America in 2013. Diesel versions of the Cruze are already offered in Europe to great success. This will finally bring some competition to Volkswagen and other European vehicle manufacturers that offer diesel passenger options in the US.

The gasoline version of the Cruze is already a hot seller, touting an EPA-rated 42 miles per gallon on the highway. The diesel model will no doubt provide even higher fuel economy and allow drivers the option to fuel with biodiesel.

While the Cruze will be Chevy’s first diesel passenger vehicle, the automaker is famous for a variety of diesel pickup trucks, as well as a range of flexible fuel vehicles designed to run on American-made Flex Fuel E85. To see a list of Chevrolet Flex Fuel Vehicles, visit Propel’s Drive E85 page.

US Biodiesel Industry Launches National Ad Campaign

Last month, the National Biodiesel Board announced that the US biodiesel industry would be launching its largest-ever public outreach effort in the form of a paid advertising campaign spanning television, radio, print media and the web.

“This is not some pipedream. Biodiesel today is fueling long-haul trucks from Florida to California, municipal buses in Texas, Ford pickups in Detroit and Volkswagens in New York City,” said National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe.

Here at Propel, we’re especially excited about the fun, 30-second biodiesel tv spot (above), which communicates the social and environmental benefits of “America’s Advanced Biofuel” and the ease of adoption “in your city.”

Help put this first-of-it’s-kind campaign to work by sharing this spot with your social network, and join the movement to renewable fuel by finding and filling with quality-certified biodiesel at a Propel Fuels location near you.

Propel Celebrates July 4th with a Customer Photo Contest!

Happy Independence Day!

For Propel customers, every tank of Flex Fuel or Biodiesel is a personal declaration of independence from imported oil and freedom of choice.

This July 4th, we’re asking customers to show that independence by sharing photos from your holiday travels.

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So far, Propel customers have captured independence in action with snapshots showing their love for everything from road trips to fireworks displays — and, of course, renewable, American fuels. Photo entries are being posted to Propel’s Facebook page and submitted via email — and all entries are eligible for the grand prize $50 free fuel card!

It’s not too late to submit a photo for your chance to win the $50 Propel fuel card. Just show us where independence takes you, and send a photo of you, your family and friends enjoying the freedom of clean mobility with your flex fuel or diesel vehicles to independence@propelfuels.com by July 5th.

This July Fourth, enjoy your freedom of choice at the pump, and have a fun and safe weekend!

Wired Magazine Debunks Top Five Ethanol Myths

We couldn’t help but repost this succinct and well-written piece from Wired Magazine’s Forrest Jehlik — guest contributor extraordinaire and mechanical engineer for the US Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory’s Transportation Technology R&D Center.

While there is no single super-solution to all the world’s energy needs, ethanol-based Flex Fuel E85 is a domestically produced, sustainable fuel that is readily compatible with millions of vehicles on the road today, no conversion or modification required. (See a list of current Flex Fuel vehicles here.)

As Jehlik writes, he’s spent a lot of time at Argonne researching ethanol (though an editor’s note clarifies that he remains energy-neutral). In the article, Jehlik quickly debunks the following five ethanol myths, with legitimate sources to boot:

>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE FROM WIRED.COM

Myth #1: Ethanol requires more energy to make than it yields.
Myth #2: Ethanol production reduces our food supply.
Myth #3: Ethanol crops and production emit more greenhouse gases than gasoline.
Myth #4: Ethanol requires too much water to produce.
Myth #5: Cars get lower gas mileage with ethanol.
(Currently, there is some truth to this last one, but modern engineering could significantly improve fuel economy and further increase a cents-per-mile advantage for ethanol.)

Jehlik’s piece is a reminder that ethanol is an alternative fuel that can be readily used to help relieve our dependence on petroleum today – and next generation ethanol fuels will only increase in sustainability and energy efficiency.

Be sure to check out Jehlik’s full write-up at Wired.com, or for more information on ethanol as a fuel, visit the Argonne National Laboratory Transportation Technology R&D Center and the Renewable Fuels Association online.