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PANAMA CITY, Fla., July 2, 2024 – On the heels of new research investigating a variety of technologies to further reduce the 0.1% of global carbon emissions from recreational boating, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) today announced a first-ever pilot program for rolling out one of the portfolio of solutions—sustainable marine fuels. The pilot program, taking place at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Fla. makes new high-performance, 93 octane, ethanol-free premium gasoline available to boaters for the first time at a local marina.

Because of the variety of diverse boat types and their varied use cases, recent research shows there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to reduce carbon emissions in recreational boat propulsion. However, with an estimated 12 million recreational boats on the water today in the U.S. and with recreational boats having a lifespan of as many as 50 years, sustainable marine fuels can provide immediate carbon emissions reductions from existing boat propulsion systems. Sustainable marine fuels are made from cooking oil waste, animal fats, plant-based materials and other green refining methods and can be “dropped in” to powerboat engines without changes or modifications to the current fuel systems.

“As an industry, we’re continually looking at innovative solutions that enhance the boating experience for our country’s nearly 100 million boaters who turn to the water for wellness, adventure and connection to the outdoors,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of NMMA. “Today is a major milestone in our collective industry efforts to make sustainable marine fuels available to boaters and begin to explore how working in partnership with government, we can bring new technologies to market that advance our commitment to the boating public.”

Beginning in July, Purfuels™ gasoline, a partially renewable gasoline produced by Hyperfuels, will be available at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Fla. Florida is the number one boating state in the U.S., with more than one million registered boats and generating $31 billion for the state’s economy annually. The pilot program, in partnership with Suzuki Marine, a multinational mobility manufacturer, will help identify the process and systems needed to ship, store and distribute sustainable marine fuels, so this information can help shape distribution models around the country and globe.

“Unlike current fuel distribution systems, which handle hundreds of millions of gallons by pipeline or barge, small quantities of fuel require rail or truck transportation and local storage at distribution sites,” said Jeff Wasil, senior director of environmental, health and safety compliance for NMMA. “These additional costs can add $0.25 to $1.00 per gallon, depending on the location of the marina relative to the local fuel distribution site. These sustainable marine fuels have been optimized specifically for use in recreational boats which provide many benefits to the boating consumer such as higher performance, higher octane, more stable storage without phase-separation, and reduced carbon emissions.”

Hyperfuels has been focused on the development of sustainable marine fuels in Texas for several years, first with renewable isobutanol and now with IDEAL EMP from LyondellBasell. IDEAL EMP is a non-alcohol, high-octane blendstock with renewable content, for the ethanol-free gasoline market. Purfuels™ will be distributed by SC Rowe, a locally owned fuel business, with three generations of service to the Panama City area. This specific formulation of Purfuels™ reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30% more than E10 fuels at the same renewable content and is a first step in reducing carbon emissions from recreational boating. Future fuels, such as synthetic or e-fuels, have the potential to become fully carbon neutral.

“The City of Panama City is honored to be the first marina in the state of Florida offering a high-performance ethanol-free, sustainable marine fuel,” said Jonathan Hayes, city manager of Panama City. “We are excited to be on the cutting edge of the recreational boating industry’s continued emission reduction efforts alongside our partners in the public and private sectors. We are privileged to have such a great community partner like Suzuki Marine.”

“Sustainable marine fuels have incredible potential to further reduce emissions and lower the environmental impact of recreational boating across the nation,” said Brandon Cerka, general manager of sales and marketing for Suzuki Marine. “The key lies in making these fuels more accessible to the boating public at local marinas and fuel docks. For many months, we’ve been working with local fuel distributors SC Rowe, LyondellBassell, Hyperfuels, and St. Andrews Marina to make this possible. This is a great day for boaters in the Florida Panhandle. We’re hopeful this will help create a groundswell of interest across Florida and eventually nationwide.”

For the past 20 years, NMMA and industry partners have reduced U.S. recreational boating emissions by more than 90% and increased fuel efficiency by more than 40%. As part of the global recreational marine industry’s work to further decarbonize, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) released findings from their Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry research and launched the Propelling Our Future educational initiative in 2023, which aims to raise awareness of the variety of technology solutions needed to continue to reduce boating emissions in the future.

About NMMA: The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading trade organization for the North American recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, marine accessories, and gear used by millions of boaters in North America. The association serves its members and their sales and service networks by improving the business environment for recreational boating including providing domestic and international sales and marketing opportunities, reducing unnecessary government regulation, decreasing the cost of doing business, and helping grow boating participation. As the largest producer of boat and sport shows in the U.S., NMMA connects the recreational boating industry with the boating consumer year-round. Learn more at www.nmma.org and get engaged with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Suzuki Marine: Suzuki is a leading manufacturer of 4-stroke outboard motors ranging from the ultra-portable 2.5 horsepower to the flagship DF350 V-6 with contra-rotating dual propellers. Over the years, Suzuki outboards have won nine Innovation Awards from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) for motors as small as 25 horsepower, demonstrating Suzuki’s commitment to making the best technology available to the widest possible audience. Over the past few years, Suzuki Marine USA opened a U.S. Marine Technical Center in Panama City, Florida and moved to a new corporate headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to be closer to the heart of the U.S. boating industry and boating capital of the country. Through its CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, regional cleanup and habitat restoration efforts around the world, and company-wide plastic waste reduction efforts, Suzuki has demonstrated a commitment to protecting coastal and marine habitat at home and around the world. To learn more about Suzuki Marine's full array of 4-stroke outboard motors from 2.5 to 350 horsepower, contact Suzuki Marine USA headquarters at (813) 687-7200 or visit www.suzukimarine.com.

About Hyperfuels: Houston-based Hyperfuels distributes high performance and alternative fuels, lubricants and additives for performance engines. Since 1998 Hyperfuels has revolutionized the packaged fuel markets by creating a "grab and go" fuel canister with top quality fuels such as Sunoco Racing Fuels®, Elf Racing Fuels®, Total Energies® Lubricants, PurFuels™, E-Free and SynDiesel®. Hyperfuels leads the industry in distribution of ethanol-free fuels (using isobutanol oxygenate) to marinas, fire and crash rescue operations and small engine users. For more information visit www.hyperfuels.com.

About LyondellBasell: LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world's largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyb.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.