New York City recently opened its first retail fuel station dispensing renewable diesel thanks to an “historic” collaboration between Sprague Operating Resources and Sonomax, a local gas station and convenience store operator.
The location will help usher in a “new era for the transportation sector,” officials maintained, offering fleet operators “immediate” reductions in greenhouse gases and harmful emissions with a drop-in fuel solution.
“Sprague has a long history of introducing cleaner fuel solutions in NYC, which includes pioneering and commercializing ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel ten years before an EPA mandate, becoming the first terminal marketer in the nation to earn the status of the Clean Fuels Alliance of America, formerly the National Biodiesel Board, Certified BQ-9000 Marketer in 2006 for its biodiesel offering, and more recently by investing in renewable diesel supply at our Bronx terminal since June 2023,” David Glendon, Sprague president and CEO, said in a news release.
“As we move toward electrification, renewable diesel and other sustainable fuels are a great drop-in solution to dramatically reduce emissions today.”
Sprague, an energy solutions provider that introduced the first thin-film solar panels for liquid tanks in the U.S. in 2020, plans to continue expanding its supply of renewable diesel across its Northeast footprint to serve the transportation and home heating markets, the company said. Transportation remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Renewable diesel is a seamless replacement for conventional fossil fuel diesel, delivering environmental and public health benefits without sacrificing performance.
“Empire Clean Cities proudly commends Sonomax, Sprague, and all the partners involved in the grand opening of New York’s first public renewable diesel station,” said Joy Gardner, Empire Clean Cities executive director. “By introducing RD at retail fuel stations, this initiative presents fleets with a pivotal chance to dramatically curtail greenhouse gas emissions, NOx, and particulate matter, making an immediate and positive impact on the air we all breathe.
“The decision to make renewable fuels widely accessible underscores a collective stride toward a cleaner transportation landscape and promoting a greener, healthier future for all.”