Jon Brines, Lincoln News

It’s not often you see environmentalists and a fuel retailer agreeing much in the era of global warming, but a new biofuels station in Rocklin is attracting the two and creating opportunities for Rocklin drivers to reduce their carbon footprint.

“The green revolution has to start somewhere,” said Rocklin gas station owner Bodh Kunwar. “I have to make a contribution.”

Kunwar owns the 76 gas station at Five Star Boulevard and Stanford Ranch Road in Rocklin. He recently obtained a state grant and gave a land lease to Propel Fuels, a Sacramento-based fuel retailer, to offer biofuels to drivers.

“It’s our neck on the line to make this thing work,” said Propel Fuels CEO Rob Elam.
Elam is a Davis native who started Propel Fuels in Seattle but recently moved its headquarters and nearly 100 green jobs to Sacramento to take advantage of the state of California’s interest in alternative energy.

“If you are mad about what you’re paying for gas, climate change or terrorists in the Middle East, then you can put these fuels in and feel good about it,” Elam said.

The Propel Fuels station is one of five in the Sacramento area, which provide drivers with E85 flex fuel (ethanol) and D5 biodiesel.

Ethanol customers need a E85 flex fuel compatible vehicle to take advantage of the $1.89 price per gallon. Ethanol decreases carbon dioxide output by 19 to 52 percent as compared to conventional unleaded gasoline and reduces harmful particulate matter, according to the Department of Energy.

Propel biodiesel blends are compatible with every diesel engine and also reduces carbon dioxide emissions, according to their Web site.

Kunwar said he’s seen between 15 and 40 customers a day. Some of those drivers are fueling vehicles from the U. S. Postal Service and the state of California.

“It’s a good decision for the post office,” said Rocklin mail carrier Paul Barmann after he fueled his postal truck with ethanol. “We have a chance to make a difference.”

According to state officials, California has a fleet of nearly 4,000 flex fuel vehicles on the road today.

“We want more gas stations like this,” said Jeffrey Young from the Department of General Services for the state of California. “As a state, we have to be the leading edge on all of these things and try it out.”

California watchdog groups like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club are supportive of the new biofuels stations.

“We are happy that different fuel sources are being offered,” said Greenpeace spokesman Daniel Kessler. “It’s going to take a variety of energy sources to get us to where we need to go to reduce climate change.”

The Sierra Club agrees biofuels emissions are better but warns the production of corn-based ethanol has a negative impact on the environment.

“It’s time to move beyond corn,” said Mother Lode Sierra Club spokesperson Terry Davis. “Runoff from nitrogen fertilizers ultimately results in ocean releases of carbon dioxide and of nitrous oxide, a far more potent greenhouse gas.”

Elam said corn-based ethanol is just a first step in providing alternative fuels.
“I think we are all learning that you can’t let the perfect be the enemy of good,” Elam said. “The American consumer is the biggest change agent in the history of the world. Until we get them involved, we’re not going to get over this problem.”

Elam said he’s interested in other sources like algae based and waste stream biofuels like a program at UC Davis, which turns rice straw into ethanol.

Currently, central valley farmers burn the rice straw after every harvest, sending particulate matter into the air.

“If they can make those technologies into fuels, we’ll buy them,” Elam said.
Officials at California’s Environmental Protection Agency said the state needs more entrepreneurs like Elam taking risks to create greener products and in the process making green jobs.

“It’s exciting,” said CEPA deputy secretary Daniel Pellissier “We may not be growing crops specifically for the purpose of biofuels, instead we might find other things in the world we can use that we need for California’s future.”