Biodiesel appears to be continuing its rise to fame and acceptance in Western Washington.
Lately, it’s Seattle-based Propel Biofuels making media waves with its first of many fueling stations in the Puget Sound region opening this weekend, including one in Ballard (honored with a U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell appearance earlier this week) and another in Kenmore.
Future locations are planned in Monroe, Woodinville, Lake Forest Park, North Seattle, South Lake Union, West Seattle, Redmond, East Bellevue, downtown Bellevue, Mount Baker, Kent, Bremerton, Factoria and Poulsbo. Stations will be open 24 hours and will take all major credit cards and fleet cards.
You know, I’ve always kind of wanted a Volkswagen diesel. With biofuels getting more accessible Prius, a favorite of my new-found friend Richard Albright of Edmonds, who also happens to be director of the office of air, waste and toxics for the Environmental Protection Agency in Seattle. He and his daughter both drive Priuses.
Albright highly recommends the increasingly common Toyota model, even though the ride is definitely lower to the ground.
“It handles well. It’s comfortable,” he said. “I just love it. Over the course of a year, I think we’re getting 50 miles per gallon.”
Then again, I’ve heard the Prius rides a bit “loud,” supposedly because of less insulation to cut weight and tighter tires for less road resistance. That’s not great, especially on those rumbly stretches of I-5, but maybe that was just the earlier models. I must do a test drive.
Also, and this is important, with biodiesel, you have the added bonus of sporting one of those awesome bumper stickers I keep seeing everywhere: “Biodiesel: No War Required!”
What do you think is the better alternative to burning regular fuel? Who would win in a fight — a biodiesel Volkswagen Golf or a hybrid Prius?
Without a comment spot on this blog, it’s hard for me to know what you think, so write me, please.
I promise to respond and post your responses if you like!
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