USDA Awards $26 Million for Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it is providing $26 million to build the infrastructure to expand the availability of higher blend renewable fuels at retail sites across the nation.

The funding, made through the Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), is designed to help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs for infrastructure upgrades.

The infrastructure funded by the HBIIP program include partial reimbursement to install E15 compatible UST and dispenser systems at retail sites, expand renewable fuel loading racks at terminals and increase storage capacity for biodiesel fuels.

The USDA said the new awards are for infrastructure investment in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin.

The USDA’s announcement marks the one-year anniversary of the HBIIP program. To date, USDA has invested $66.4 million for projects that are expected to increase biofuels sales by 1.2 billion gallons annually.

TAP HERE for all articles in August 30 EXPRESS Update