New station caters to 'fuel agnostics'

Ethanol blend flows at Logan

The state's second E85 station opened yesterday at Logan. (David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)

Regular or premium? How about E85?

Customers at the Logan International Airport Gulf Oil station now have the option of filling up with fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline - that is, if their vehicle can run on either petroleum-based or ethanol fuel.

There are more than 80,000 such flex-fuel vehicles already registered in the state, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, a trade group that promotes the use of E85, which is considered more environmentally friendly than gasoline. But they mostly run on regular gasoline - the only other in-state E85 station is in Chelsea.

Joe Petrowski, Gulf Oil LP's chief executive, said Logan's E85 station - which opened yesterday and was selling the fuel for $1.89 a gallon - is part of his company's effort to help reduce the country's dependence on oil.

"We're fuel agnostic," Petrowski said. "Ultimately, we think the transportation fuel future will involve more than just diesel and gasoline, and that biodiesel, E85, and even compressed natural gas will all be significant parts of transportation fuels going forward."

The challenge, Petrowski added, will be getting consumers to buy alternative-fuel vehicles and persuading fuel dealers to offer alternatives to gas.

"Having that choice at every station is really what I think should be our national policy," Petrowski said. "It's good for us to not be dependent on any one fuel."

Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com.