Global Partners last week received a $1 million grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CriticalMass program to deploy electric vehicle (EV) chargers at retail sites in Worcester, Ayer and Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
The Waltham, Massachusetts-based fuel and convenience-retail company, which operates Alltown Fresh convenience stores and other brands, is partnering with Somerville, Massachusetts-based SparkCharge, an EV-charging system and network that functions grid-free to install mobile, direct-current (DC) chargers with the grant.
- Global Partners is No. 25 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
The CriticalMass program is a new initiative that provides support to climate tech companies advancing solutions from pilot demonstration to commercial deployment. The program focuses on startup projects that demonstrate market potential and measurable climate impact, according to CriticalMass.
“The MassCEC CriticalMass program is an essential piece of the puzzle to the energy transition in Massachusetts,” Global Partners’ energy division, Sustainability at Global, said in a LinkedIn post. “We're excited to be selected as a partner and to work with such an innovative company as SparkCharge on the opportunity for DC fast mobile charging at our retail locations and beyond.”
James Cater, senior director of sustainability strategy and innovation at Global Partners, added on LinkedIn, “Excited to have Global selected as a project partner with one of the most innovative companies in the EV charging landscape!”
Global Partners also has EV charging sites in New Hampshire. It has received almost a half-million dollars in funding through the New Hampshire Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust DCFC (DC Fast Charging) Infrastructure program. This program, run by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, provided the financing to offset up to 80% of the cost affiliated with installing the charging stations.
In January 2025, Global Partners launched EV charging locations at two New Hampshire c-stores.
Global Partners owns, operates or supplies more than 1,700 retail locations across the Northeast states, the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, of which 353 are company owned. Brands include Alltown Fresh, Honey Farms and XtraMart, among others.
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