Clean Fuels NY hosted a press conference today to celebrate the grand opening of New York City’s first retail fuel station serving renewable diesel. This marked Sprague Energy’s entry into the retail service station arena with renewable diesel as they supply the Sonomax fueling station with low-carbon fuels, replacing conventional fossil fuel diesel.
Renewable diesel affords an immediate reduction of greenhouse gases, particulate matter small particles, and NOx emissions. The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in New York. Low-carbon fuel options for existing vehicles will immediately cut transportation emissions and help New York meet its bold climate goals. Sonomax will service diesel trucks for film production, delivery services, and other industries seeking to power their vehicles with low-carbon fuels.
“This is a huge step in the right direction. Fuel replacements like these are what will help curb greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in New York,” said Pat McClellan, Director of Policy, New York League of Conservation Voters. “The reality is that even with aggressive vehicle electrification, 50% of the heavy-duty trucks on our roads will still have combustion engines that require a liquid fuel in 2050. We need to make low-carbon fuels like what Sonomax is offering more widely available in order to reduce emissions and improve public health while we transition to 100% zero-emission vehicles. Implementing a statewide clean fuel standard will help make low-carbon fuels the norm. We are grateful to Sprague Energy and Sonomax for paving the way.”
“We are excited to partner with Sonomax on this first retail station for renewable diesel in New York City and look forward to helping propel adoption of renewable diesel across our Northeast footprint,” said David Glendon, President and CEO of Sprague Operating Resources. “Sprague has over 150 years of experience helping our customers navigate these energy transitions, and we will continue to innovate and invest in cleaner fuels and sustainable solutions for all our valued customers.”
“If we are to meet New York’s bold climate change plans, then we will need to use every tool at our disposal to reduce emissions, including renewable diesel,” said Kendra Hems, President of the Trucking Association of New York. “The launch of the first retail fuel station to serve renewable diesel is a landmark for the trucking industry. While this is just one step in a much longer process, it is another example of the ways our industry is working to create a sustainable future for New Yorkers everywhere.”
“Transportation is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in New York City. The opening of our City's first fuel station serving renewable diesel is a positive example that will reduce emissions to help tackle the climate crisis,” said Councilmember Lincoln Restler.
“Renewable diesel is a key element in reducing carbon emissions on our film and television sets as infrastructure and pipeline growth becomes available to electrify our fleets and power stations. As we meet this transformation, The Producers Guild of America supports the use of renewable diesel as part of our mission to promote health and safety in our work environments and the entertainment industry”, said Lydia Dean Pilcher, Chair, PGA Sustainable Task Force and President, CINE MOSAIC, INC.
“Empire Clean Cities proudly commends Sonomax, Sprague Energy, and all the partners involved in the grand opening of New York's first public renewable diesel station. 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,” stated Joy Gardner, Executive Director, Empire Clean Cities.
“We're thrilled to support this step towards cleaner energy which will benefit NYC's $82B film and TV industry,” said Pat Swinney Kaufman, the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. “This administration, in coordination with local productions, unions and busineses, strives to make NYC the best place to film. In addition to offering competitive tax incentives, a diverse talent tool, and a robust infrastructure, we continue to seek out new and innovative ways to support the industry in becoming more sustainable.”
“As a longtime community organizer, I have spent decades combatting the stranglehold environmental racism has had on black and brown communities. In our lifelong commitment to environmental equity, the Black Institute stands in solidarity with Clean Fuels NY to reduce carbon emissions across New York State,” said Bertha Lewis, Founder and CEO of the Black Institute. “Black and brown residents already breathe in 66% more pollutants from vehicles than white residents statewide, with children from areas such as Harlem and the Bronx having at least 10X the number of respiratory complications than children from higher-income neighborhoods. We cannot afford to wait another day for a solution to come, when families are dying today. This initiative not only benefits the environment, but it also has an immediate impact on our black and brown communities, without them shouldering a financial and health burden.”