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Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive grants awarded to 59 projects

The Biden administration is awarding $25 million to expand the use and availability of biofuels.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Inflation Reduction Act dollars will go toward 59 infrastructure projects across 15 states.

“We are looking for ways in which we can provide assistance, particularly for small distribution systems (like) small gas stations (and) convenience stores. Those who have ten or fewer stations, their federal share of the grant will go from 50 percent of the cost of the infrastructure to 75 percent.”

He says the goal is to make distribution available for higher ethanol blends like E15 and E-85.

“As well as something above the five percent biodiesel that’s available, expanding that percentage as well. So we’re excited about this opportunity, we think this is quite consistent with the President’s desire to expand the middle class from the bottom up and middle out.”

Vilsack says USDA will also begin accepting applications for $450 million in grants through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program to help lower out-of-pocket costs for fuel distribution facilities to install and upgrade biofuel-related infrastructure including pumps and storage tanks.