Oregon Public Broadcasting

Northwest drivers looking for an alternative to pricy gas have been disappointed to see alternatives like ethanol and biodiesel rise in price even faster.

Alternative fuel retailers in Portland and Seattle are opening new stations despite the product expense and the separate food vs. fuel controversy.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

Seattle-based Propel Biofuels is celebrating the opening of its sixth biodiesel gas station.  The digital readerboard advertises a 20 percent bio-blend for $4.97 per gallon.

That’s about a dime more than the Seattle average for regular diesel.  Propel president Rob Elam holds out hope that biodiesel will eventually cost less than the fossil fuel.

Rob Elam: “We’re opening these stations because we continue to get interest and we continue to have strong sales.”

That said, Propel has revised its West Coast expansion plans to grow slower in light of the current economy.

In Oregon, Sequential Biofuels has put a planned second station in Eugene on ice.  But the company continues to expand its network of independent retailers.

Online:

Propel Biofuels

SeQuential Biofuels