Getting Gasoline and Diesel on Matinicus

Last update: 16th May 2025

Beginning in June 2025 the Assessors are pleased to announce that Matinicus Plantation will be partnering with Maine Coast Petroleum to bring diesel and gasoline to businesses and residents of Matinicus. The objective is to provide residents with convenient access to, and safe storage of, diesel and gasoline.
The Plantation has purchased UL 142 rated double walled gasoline and diesel fuel tanks that residents can rent space in to store their fuel. The Plantation has approximately 3,000 gallons of space available to residents for diesel, and 1,100 gallons of space for gasoline.
All residents/businesses who want to purchase gasoline or diesel from Maine Coast Petroleum via their fuel barge will be required to rent space in the Plantation fuel tanks unless:

1. They own a fuel truck or fuel trailer

2. They have a stationary UL 142 double walled tank with a capacity in excess of 120 gallons they are able to transport to the wharf.

3. Residents are purchasing Kerosene. The Plantation does not have a Kerosene tank.
How much will it cost to rent space in the tanks? The annual rental rate is $3 per gallon for either gasoline or diesel. Maine Revenue Services have determined that the Plantation does not have to charge sales tax. Once a week, town employees will be available to pump fuel for residents. Town employees will also deliver diesel to residents’ homes once a month. These services are included in the rental fees. The rental charge helps the Plantation to service its debt and offset the costs of tank maintenance and inspection.

How do I get fuel on Matinicus?

1. Set up an account with Maine Coast Petroleum. Call (207) 372-6962 if you do not have an account with them.
2. Click on the link to the google form here: https://forms.gle/Tq8hhLW5W8D6hGfn6 to notify the Plantation as to how much space you wish to rent in the town tanks. If you are unable to complete the google form, please notify the Plantation in writing as to how much space you wish to rent.
3. Pay the Invoice from the Plantation for rental space. You are all set.
Each time the barge visits, the amount of space you rent in the town tanks will automatically be re-filled so that you don’t have to worry about fuel.
The Plantation will co-ordinate delivery dates with Maine Coast Petroleum. Prior to a delivery, the
Plantation will notify all residents of the coming delivery should residents wish to top up their tanks prior to the delivery. The Plantation will then submit an order sheet to Maine Coast Petroleum for all residents that rent fuel storage space so that everyone’s supply of fuel is automatically refilled. Maine Coast Petroleum will bill residents directly for the fuel.
Town employees will set aside an hour a week to pump fuel for residents. For residents using diesel to heat their homes, the town will deliver diesel once a month during the Fall, Winter, and Spring to keep tanks topped up so long as the tanks are well maintained and easily accessible. These services are included in the annual rental rate.

Note: On days when the fuel barge is coming to Matinicus at the Plantation’s request, access to the wharf will be restricted while the barge is pumping fuel. Town employees have to run fuel lines across the wharf and road. They must also maneuver three fuel trailers on the wharf. The disruption to residents and businesses will be minimal as the fuel barge is here four times a year for a couple of hours each visit. Residents will NOT be able to fill up gas cans, barrels, cars, trucks etc on the wharf as they did in the past?

How much storage space will I need?
We currently anticipate that the fuel barge will visit four times per year: February, May, August, November.
On each of these visits Maine Coast Petroleum will automatically re-fill your rental allocation.
To help you estimate how much fuel storage space you might need to rent, consider some examples:

1. You live on Matinicus from May – September and use approximately 60 gallons of gasoline during that time. You would not need to rent 60 gallons of space. Thirty gallons would likely be sufficient.

Explanation: When you arrive in May you would already have 30 gallons in the town tanks. At some point, most likely early August, the tanks would be re-filled pushing you back up to 30 gallons of gasoline that you could draw down. This would automatically be refilled over the winter when you are not on island, so your allocation is full when you arrive back in May next year.

2. You live on Matinicus year round and heat with diesel. You use approximately 500 gallons of diesel per year. You likely need 200 gallons of storage.

Explanation: Typically the fuel barge will be scheduled for November and February. Going into the heating season, the Plantation will ensure that the tanks in your home are filled prior to the
November fuel barge visit. After the November fuel barge you have your full rental allocation of
diesel sitting in town storage and your home tanks will be full.
Over the next 3 months you use 200 gallons of diesel. The Plantation continues to keep the tanks in your home full each month. In February your allocation in the town tank is re-filled again, and the tanks in your home are kept topped up each month by the Plantation. Over the next three months you might draw down another 200 gallons from the rental space. The tanks in your home would remain full.
If the weather was unusually cold you might find that you have utilized all the fuel in the rental
space in the town tank by April. That would still mean you have full tanks in your home in April, even if you have no fuel left in the town tank. The May and August fuel barge visits are used to make sure the tanks in your home and your rental space in the town tank are topped off for the next winter. Residents in this situation could rent 200 gallons of diesel storage space, although for added peace of mind, you might want to rent 250 gallons or 300 gallons of space.
In the examples above, the resident who needs 30 gallons of storage space would pay $90 per year, while the resident heating with diesel would pay $600 per year for fuel storage and delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What if demand is more than the total amount of space available?

Based on historical data from Maine Coast Petroleum we do not expect this to be a concern.
Residents should remember that Maine Coast Petroleum will re-fill the tanks four times a year.
If demand is large enough to justify investment in additional tanks, the Plantation will invest in more tanks?

2. I am only on Matinicus between June and September. Why should I pay for year-round storage?

Year round storage ensures that when you arrive you have a full allocation of fuel. Your allocation
will be topped up during the winter months when you are not present on Matinicus.

3. I am only on Matinicus between June and September. Won’t the fuel go off if it is stored for a long time?

All fuel goes off if it is stored for a long time. Fortunately the fuel in the town tanks will be refreshed each time the fuel barge comes. In addition, the Plantation will treat the fuel with biocides to ensure that bacteria and fungi cannot contaminate the fuel.

4. Can I increase my rental space?

Absolutely. If there is sufficient space you can increase the amount of space you rent at any time.

5. How do I cancel my rental?
Notify the Plantation either via email or writing. The Plantation will remove you from the rental list
when your annual rental is complete. It is your responsibility to draw down ALL the fuel allocated to you prior to the completion of your rental. Suppose you still have 10 gallons in the tank on the rental renewal date. You will be charged for rental space for 10 gallons for the next 12 months.

6. I don’t want to use the town tanks, what can I do?
You could opt to purchase a UL 142 tank with a capacity in excess of 120 gallons and you can
fill that on the wharf when the fuel barge visits. If you own a pickup truck you could install a transfer tank for diesel or gasoline in the bed and bring enough fuel from the mainland when you come to Matinicus. You could bring fuel via boat – please check the rules and regulations for carrying fuel on boats. You can contact Maine Coast Petroleum if you wish to purchase large quantities of fuel.

7. I am not using the town tanks as I have my own UL 142 tank. Do I need to call Maine Coast
Petroleum before they come to Matinicus?

Yes you do. Maine Coast Petroleum will bring the exact amount of fuel they are asked to bring. If you have not notified them in advance as to how much fuel you need, you will not be able to fill your tank. All the fuel on the barge will have already been allocated to residents and businesses renting space in the town tanks.