Increasing public access and sales of lower carbon biofuels is important to meeting the goals of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. In 2009, there were over 1,000,000 Flex Fuel Vehicles that could fuel with E85 ethanol, but fewer than 30 public renewable fuel stations in California selling E85. In 2011, the California Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Propel Fuels a grant to build 10 alternative fuel filling stations that could sell E85 ethanol and B20 biodiesel. Propel is the leading provider of renewable fuels in California and has experience operating stations across the state.
Propel's objective was to install alternative fuel tanks and dispensers at 10 existing gas stations using their Clean Fuel Point business model. These stations will be constructed and operated in regions that support high densities of Flex Fuel Vehicles. When available, Propel will source domestically-produced biofuels fuels from inside California to provide their consumers with the most local and most sustainable fuel. Propel will also seek to distribute advanced second-generation fuels as they become available in the market.
Propel's objectives with the 10 stations were to displace 3,234,000 gallons of petroleum annually and reduce 24,933 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Due to challenges with financing, Propel constructed just two of the planned 10 stations.
