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USDA offers $100 million for biofuel infrastructure

The USDA has opened applications for $100 million in grants to increase biofuel infrastructure.

At Casey’s General Store in Le Roy, Illinois Tuesday Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters the funding is available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program to help fuel retailers build and retrofit biofuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks.

He says it will not only give consumers cheaper options at the pump, “This is also going to let American agriculture be able to say, without any hesitation, that we are front and center in terms of climate smart practices and climate smart products. That will provide us a significant advantage in the export markets.”

Nathanial Doddridge, Vice President of Fuel for Casey’s General Stores tells Brownfield infrastructure funding is crucial to keep up with clean fuel demand.

“The supply chain has to be ready for this growth and I think over the course of the last few years we have seen a lot of strides in that, but there is still a lot of work to be done on infrastructure to make sure that as any stores as possible that want to sell higher blends are able to do so.”

The grants will cover up to 50% of total eligible costs for projects supporting blends of at least 10% ethanol and 5% biodiesel. Applications are due November 21^st.