Brooklyn Announces Plans for Artisanal Gasoline Refinery in Williamsburg
Brooklyn entrepreneurs announced Wednesday their plans to open New York’s first “craft petroleum refinery” in a converted warehouse space in Williamsburg, citing inspiration from Chevron’s operations but with “more of a locally-sourced vibe.” The facility, dubbed “Crude & Co.,” promises to deliver small-batch gasoline with transparent supply chains and optional oat milk additives.
“We saw what Chevron was doing in El Segundo and thought, ‘Why can’t we bring that artisanal, hand-crafted approach to fossil fuels?'” explained founder Jasper Greenfield, 29, whose previous ventures include a subscription box service for expired kombucha. “Every barrel will be carefully curated by our in-house petroleum sommelier.”
The project draws loose inspiration from Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, though Crude & Co. plans to differentiate itself through Instagram-friendly branding and a tasting room where customers can sample different octane levels while sitting on reclaimed wooden pallets. Early mockups show a facility with exposed brick, Edison bulbs, and massive flammable chemical storage tanks artfully arranged for maximum aesthetic appeal.
“We’re committed to transparency,” Greenfield continued, gesturing toward architectural renderings featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking bubbling crude oil. “Customers can literally watch their gasoline being refined while enjoying our selection of fair-trade coffees. It’s petroleum, but make it mindful.”
The refinery plans to source crude oil exclusively from “ethical” suppliers, defined as “anyone who responds to our emails and doesn’t charge too much.” Processed fuel will be sold at pop-up stations throughout Brooklyn at approximately $47 per gallon, a price Greenfield describes as “competitive for the neighborhood.”
Local officials have raised concerns about zoning, safety regulations, and the minor detail that refining petroleum in a densely populated urban area might be “catastrophically dangerous.” Greenfield dismissed these worries as “the same resistance every innovator faces,” comparing regulatory pushback to early criticism of his failed juice bar that exclusively served beverages made from weeds found in Prospect Park.
Community board meetings have devolved into chaos, with longtime residents questioning the wisdom of industrial petroleum processing next to $3 million condos. Greenfield countered that his environmental impact studya single-page Google Doc titled “We’ll Figure It Out”addresses all reasonable concerns.
Crude & Co. plans to open pending approximately 47,000 permits the founders haven’t applied for yet. Pre-orders for their signature “Brooklyn Blend” gasoline are available now, though buyers should note the product doesn’t actually exist and may never exist.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/chevrons-el-segundo-refinery/
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/chevrons-el-segundo-refinery/.
By: Annika Steinmann.
