Jan. 24, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Phillips
(804) 482-1790
mphillips@vacleancities.org
Amber Thurlo Pearson
(573) 268-6853
amber@protecfuel.com
First Public E85 Pumps Come to Richmond, Va., Area
Richmond and Wash., D.C. Suburbs Get 3 E85 Pumps
RICHMOND — Ethanol – E85 – has reached two new milestones on the East Coast. Today the Richmond, Va., area gets its first public E85 stations, and MAPCO Express, Inc.’s East Coast convenience stores open their first E85 locations under the “East Coast” brand. With two new E85 stations near Richmond and one near Washington, D.C., area drivers with a flex-fuel vehicle now have more choices in filling up with E85, thanks to partners Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Protec Fuel, MAPCO Express and the Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Clean Cities Coalitions.
MAPCO’s “East Coast” branded stores in Warrenton, Chester and Petersburg opened today with its offering of a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. These E85 stations will help the area reduce emissions, lower dependence on foreign oil and spur domestic economic growth.
Protec Fuel, based in Florida, has partnered with MAPCO Express, Inc., to convert the stations and to provide the E85 fuel for the company’s greener-burning fuel option at these East Coast convenience store locations as well as others in the Southeast. MAPCO Express, Inc., and Protec plan to open two more locations this year as well as offer cellulosic ethanol made from municipal solid waste.
“We are pleased to be able to partner with Protec Fuel to expand the availability of E85,” said Dan Gordon, Vice President of Supply for Mapco Express, Inc. “This will offer our customers additional choices and expands our network of E85 stations in our chain.”
“We are delighted the partner entities are all driven to expand E85 to the East, which is newer to and in need of E85 stations,” said Steve Walk, an Executive Director of Protec Fuel. “Not only is it a logical location – near our nation’s capital – to promote U.S.-made fuel, but the corporate partner, MAPCO Express, Inc., has made its environmental mission part of its business model.”
“Expanded E85 stations in Virginia are a great opportunity for folks to try or switch to this cleaner domestic and renewable fuel” said Alleyn Harned, Executive Director of the Virginia Clean Cities Coalition. “With Protec and MAPCO’s leadership, there are now ten public E85 stations in Virginia, which service the hundreds of thousands of flex-fuel vehicles in the Commonwealth.”
“We are pleased that Protec Fuel, MAPCO Express, Inc.’s East Coast brand stores, and the Virginia Clean Cities Coalition have chosen Dinwiddie County as one of the two E85 fueling stations in the Richmond area,” said Kevin Massengill, County Administrator. “Providing clean energy alternatives, such as E85 ethanol, not only benefits today’s flex-fuel vehicle drivers but encourages an environmental consciousness, which will carry over to future generations.”
“While the future of alternative fuels will include a number of options, this local opportunity for Chesterfield’s citizens can enhance community understanding of those options and the associated environmental issues,” said Dr. Sheryl Bailey, Deputy County Administrator.“Departments and residents are encouraged to learn more or try this domestic fuel to the extent that their vehicles are designed for such use.”
LOCATIONS:
• East Coast / MAPCO
13200 Kingston Ave
Chester, VA 23836
• East Coast / MAPCO
6460 Boydton Plank Road
Petersburg, VA 23803
• East Coast / MAPCO
10007 James Madison Hwy
Warrenton, VA 20187
Besides its environmental and energy security benefits, this high octane fuel, E85, also sells competitively to conventional gasoline. Please visit www.ethanolretailer.com/flex-fuel-station-finder if you’re unsure if your vehicle can run on E85. If you have an iPhone or Android series phone, search for the free “Flex-Fuel Station Locator” app to find nearby E85 stations, as well.
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About Protec Fuel
Protec Fuel is a fuel distribution and management company based in Boca Raton, Fla., with its alternative fuel division specializing in turnkey ethanol programs for retailers, fleets and fuel distributors throughout the United States. Turnkey E85 services include physical ethanol supply and blending programs; financial risk management programs; E85 strategic site selection; station design; equipment supply; station installation and conversions; RINS management; government grant funding assistance and support with station sales and marketing. Protec currently supplies, either directly or through distribution partners, more than 200 E85 stations. Please visit www.protecfuel.com to learn more.
About MAPCO Express. Inc
MAPCO Express, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delek US Holdings, Inc. With headquarters in Brentwood, Tenn., Delek US operates approximately 390 convenience stores in eight states under the MAPCO Express®, MAPCO Mart®, East Coast®, Discount Food Mart™, Fast Food and Fuel™, Delta Express®, and Favorite Markets® brand names. It is one of the largest company-operated convenience store chains in the U.S. More than half of the retail segment’s store locations are in Tennessee, and the company owns the real estate of more than half of the stores it operates. To learn more please visit www.mapcoexpress.com.
About the Virginia Clean Cities Coalition
Virginia Clean Cities is a regional nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing our energy, economic, and environmental security through petroleum reduction and clean transportation. Virginia Clean Cities is a state and federally recognized coalition stakeholders staffed in partnership with James Madison University. Virginia Clean Cities operates dozens of domestic fuel and environmental education and deployment projects for federal, state, agencies and private partners. To learn more please visit www.vacleancities.org.
About the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board
The MGPUB was established in 1991 to support a profitable and viable Maryland grain industry. Using farmer-funded checkoff investments, projects in market development, education and research address issues specific to Maryland farmers, so they can produce food, fiber, fuel and energy for the consumer in the most economical and environmentally-friendly manner possible. For more information visit www.marylandgrain.com.