FRAMINGHAM, MA--August 30, 2012: In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Gulf Oil today announced the grand opening of its E85 fueling station at the Charlton East Service Plaza on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), ready to service travelers with Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). This station is one of four new Gulf E85 fueling stations planned for the Turnpike and represents an important milestone here in Massachusetts to provide alternative, affordable, and environmentally friendly motor fuels. As of today, Gulf has three E85 fueling stations open at Service Plazas on the Turnpike -- Charlton Eastbound, Charlton Westbound and at the Westborough service plaza. Massachusetts drivers are on the leading edge of alternative fuels today. There are more than 100,000 FFVs registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“We wish to thank all of the Federal and State officials and private industry executives for having the vision and foresight to help make our E85 fueling stations on the Massachusetts Turnpike a reality.”
"We are proud to be among the first to open alternative fueling locations, and we look forward to the day when we can offer more choices, primarily from our domestic sources, such as E85, biodiesel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). No longer does one form of energy serve all of our needs; it is the combination of varied sources with environmental impact in mind that together will frame a stronger foundation for our new energy future," says Gulf Oil President and COO Ron Sabia. "We look forward to remaining a market leader in alternate fuel development and are proud that our home here in Massachusetts is in the forefront of this transformation."
According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, there are more than 2,400 E85 ethanol fueling stations in the US. E85 is more affordable and environmentally friendly than conventional gasoline: for instance, in June, any US drivers who filled up with E85 paid on average 45 cents a gallon less than those who used conventional gasoline, according to E85Prices.com. Environmental benefits are another bonus: E85 reduces ozone-forming pollution by 20 percent and green house gases by 30 percent, according to the Argonne National Laboratory.
"MassDOT is committed to meeting the needs of its customers. Our residents and visitors are choosing to purchase flex fuel vehicles. By working with our partners at Energy and Environmental Affairs and Gulf Oil, we are able to now offer travelers three fueling locations along the Massachusetts Turnpike and also advance our GreenDOT goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey.
"We are excited E85 is now available on the Massachusetts Turnpike," said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rick Sullivan. "With this opening, access to alternative, domestic fuels is increasing; and that's an important step in achieving energy security and protecting our environment."
"This partnership is an important example to the nation of how the public and private sectors can work constructively to solve one of the most important issues of the 21st century: our nation's energy security. Energy security and environmental improvement can be simultaneously achieved," explained Sabia. "We wish to thank all of the Federal and State officials and private industry executives for having the vision and foresight to help make our E85 fueling stations on the Massachusetts Turnpike a reality."
Gulf opened its first E85 fueling station in Massachusetts at 100 Service Road in Boston, at Logan Airport in October of 2008.