REMINDER! USDA Offering $100 Million in Matching Funds for Installation of Higher Blend Ethanol and Biodiesel Infrastructure
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in August the availability of approximately $100 million in competitive grants to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). A USDA representative attended the Energy Marketers of America’s fall meeting in Las Vegas last week to encourage marketers to take advantage of the HBIIP grants.
According to the USDA, cost-share grants of up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs but not more than $5 million will be made available to assist transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities with converting to higher blend status for ethanol (i.e., greater than 10 percent ethanol) and biodiesel (greater than 5 percent biodiesel) by sharing the costs related to the installation, and/or retrofitting, and/ or otherwise upgrading of dispenser/ pumps, related equipment, and infrastructure. The $100 million is currently available to support a variety of fueling operations, including filling stations, convenience stores and larger retail stores that also sell fuel. The funds will also support fleet facilities including rail and marine, and fuel distribution facilities, such as fuel terminal operations, midstream operations, distribution facilities as well as home heating oil distribution centers.
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