(July 30, 2010) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Protec Fuel are proud to announce the Grand Opening of the Naval Station Norfolk E85 Station in Norfolk, Virginia. This station will be publically accessible as well as provide fuel to the Navy Fleet and city fleets. Norfolk is home to the largest fleet of vehicles using alternative fuels in United States.

As the largest Naval complex in the world, the Norfolk Naval base has 2,585 flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) in their fleet, 1,000 of which are GSA leased and operated. With the installation of this E85 pump, these vehicles will now have the ability to fill up with the fuel they were designed to run on. The Naval Station Norfolk and Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), along with the RFA and Protec Fuel, will welcome this station with a ribbon cutting grand opening ceremony for the new E85 station today, Friday, July 30th at 10:00AM. E85 fuel will be available to FFV drivers at a discounted rate of 85 cents per gallon from 11:00AM to 1:00PM, along with live radio remote and giveaways. The station is located at CD-16 Mall Drive in Norfolk, VA in the neighborhood of the NEX shopping mall and right along the busy entrance to the base. This opening marks the second E85 fuel pump to open in the Hampton Roads area. The first pump opened in March 2009 at Naval Air Station Oceana. To help educate those driving these vehicles, the rearview mirrors will display a hanger providing FFV information after each maintenance service. Protec Fuel is responsible for the infrastructure development and supply of the E85 fuel for the Naval Station Norfolk pump.

“Protec Fuel is proud to be partnered with NEXCOM and The US Navy by building and opening this new E85 station,” said Todd Garner, Managing Partner of Protec Fuel. “The Norfolk Naval E85 station, serving the largest Naval base in the world, will effectively serve the general public and the large flex-fuel fleet vehicles simultaneously. Economic and environmental benefits aside, this station and E85 will help get our troops home and strengthen our national security through domestically produced fuels.”

There are more than 8 million flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) on America’s roadways today, with over 2,300 fueling stations offering blends of E85. Efforts to install more of these types of fueling stations are underway with a goal to at least triple the availability of these blends within the next few years.

“When the largest fleet in the state of Virginia is fueling their vehicles with alternative fuels like ethanol, it shows the strong desire to rely more on domestic made fuel and less on foreign oil,” said RFA Director of Market Development, Robert White. “With the Navy taking this lead, we only hope that it will promote the use of America’s fuel throughout the rest of the U.S.”

To help locate E85 stations, the RFA has developed a fuel locator application for Garmin and TomTom GPS devices. This application is updated quarterly, and locates the closest or most convenient E85 fueling station to the driver using the current location or final destination. In a few simple steps, FFV owners can download this application from their computer directly to their GPS device here.

E85 is an ethanol blended gasoline made up of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. This fuel is to be used in Flex-Fuel Vehicles only as they have been designed to operate on any level of ethanol blended gasoline. Owners should consult their owner’s manual to see if their vehicle is E85-compatable.

About the RFA: Since 1981, the RFA has led the fight on behalf of American ethanol producers to open markets and create sound public policies allowing for the expanding production and use of fuel ethanol. Representing the majority of American ethanol production, the RFA believes sound analysis, credible statistics, an understanding of the industry rooted in history, and a willingness to work with other groups is the key to effective advocacy.

About Protec Fuel: Protec Fuel is a fuel distribution and management company based in Boca Raton, Florida with its alternative fuel division specializing in turnkey ethanol programs for retailers, fleets and fuel distributors throughout the United States. Turnkey services include: physical ethanol supply and blending programs; financial risk management programs and; RINS management. The turnkey program also covers infrastructure needs including: E85 strategic site selection; station design; equipment supply; new station installation; conversions of existing stations; government grant funding assistance and; support with station sales and marketing. Protec also provides marketing services for advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers in addition to a full range of conventional energy risk management programs. Protec currently supplies, either directly or through distribution partners, approximately 250 E85 stations. Please visit www.protecfuel.com to learn more.