NORFOK, VA - The Naval Station Norfolk and Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), along with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Protec Fuel, welcomed the opening of an E-85 fueling station in Norfolk, Va., with a ribbon cutting grand opening ceremony on July 30. The station now provides fuel to the Navy fleet and city fleets, as well as the public, according to a release issued by the RFA.

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 E-85 pump, these vehicles will now have the ability to fill up with the fuel they were designed to run on.

"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."

This opening marked the second E-85 fuel pump to open in the Hampton Roads area.