USDA announces $14.9 million for 3 Iowa companies to increase access to domestic biofuels

ALTOONA – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield this week announced that the Agency is awarding $14,943,812 in grants to three U.S. companies with locations in Iowa. The grants will increase the availability of domestic biofuels and give Iowans cleaner, more affordable fuel options at gas station pumps as part of President Biden’s Bidenomics agenda to lower costs and invest in America.

The Department is making the awards through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), made possible with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

“The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners to help expand access to domestic biofuels. These grants will help owners install and upgrade their fueling pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks,” said Director Greenfield. “At over 75 fueling stations across Iowa, families will have more options and will have lower costs to purchase homegrown biofuels.” Audio file MP3, 59 seconds, 929KB.

Today’s announcement is part of a larger national announcement made by USDA Secretary Vilsack during his visit to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona on January 11th. Secretary Vilsack was awarded the Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels Award by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association during the summit.

Background

Blending ethanol into gasoline has helped reduce fuel costs by approximately 25 percent, contributing to falling gas prices across the country. Gas prices are now under $2.99 in more than half of U.S. states and saving the average driver more than $100 per month relative to peak prices. HBIIP increases the number of Americans that benefit from falling prices by expanding the use of ethanol-based fuels at gas stations around the nation.

Award Recipients with Ties to Iowa

-Casey’s General Store Inc. received a $4,999,992 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Casey’s General Stores, Inc is the owner of more than 10 fueling stations. This project will install 456 E15 dispensers at 111fueling stations located in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Station locations impacted by this grant are: IA – Alta, Altoona (2), Ames, Ankeny (2), Armstrong, Atlantic, Belmond, Blue Grass, Britt, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Buffalo Center, Camanche, Carroll, Clarinda, Colo, Corning, Dakota City, Des Moines (2), Eddyville, Eldridge (2), Essex, Estherville (2), Fairfield, Fort Dodge, Garner, Gilbert, Gilmore City, Glidden, Gowrie, Grimes, Holstein, Humeston, Huxley, Ida Grove, Indianola (2), Iowa Falls (2), Johnston, Knoxville, Laurens, Le Claire, Lenox, Mapleton, Maquoketa, Marquette, Marshalltown, Mediapolis, Middletown, Monroe, Morning Sun, Moville, Murray, Nevada, Okoboji, Onawa, Oskaloosa, Pleasant Hill, Pomeroy, Princeton, Riceville, Sibley, Sidney, Sloan, Solon, Spencer, St. Ansgar, Storm Lake, Victor, Villisca, Wapello, West Bend, West Des Moines, West Liberty, Winterset, and Woodbine; IL – Carbondale, East Peoria, and Nokomis; MN – Alexandria, Annandale, Belgrade, Crookston, Hoffman, Moorhead, Paynesville, and Sauk Rapids; NE – Cambridge, Columbus (2), Hastings, Juniata, Lincoln (2), McCook, Omaha, Osceola, Pierce, Plainview, South Sioux City, Stromsburg, and West Point; and SD – Sioux Falls and Tyndall. This project projects to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 49,084,590 gallons per year.

-Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. received a $4,943,820 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc is the owner of more than 10 fueling stations. This project will retrofit 704 E15 dispensers at 88 fueling stations located in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Station locations impacted by this grant are: AZ – Eloy, Chandler, Gila Bend, Williams, Benson, Joseph, City; FL – Lee, Ocala, Ormond Beach; GA – Waco, Thomson, Brunswick, Richmond Hill, Jackson, Dublin, Tifton, Emerson, Hogansville; IA – Sioux City; IL – Williamsville, Ina, Kankakee, Dwight, Le Roy, Roscoe, Greensville, Utica; IN – Mooresville, Richmond, Whiteland, Memphis, Gary, Whitestown, Haubstadt, Demotte, Marion, Pittsboro, St. Paul; KS – Ottawa, Ellis; KY – Waddy, Sparta, Horse Cave, Corbin, Richmond, Grayson, Calvert City; MO – St. Joseph, Matthews, Rolla; NC – Dunn, Marion; NE – Aurora; NM – Albuquerque; NV – Fernley, Wells, Las Vegas; OH – Zanesville, Hubbard, Jeffersonville, Perrysburg, Burbank, Baltimore, Dayton; SD – Sioux Falls; TX – Van, Midlothian, Hillsboro, Katy, Luling, Rockwall, Anna, Edna, Three Rivers, Texarkana, Weimar, Hutchins, Seguin, Fairfield, Von Ormy, Weatherford, Mount Vernon, Lufkin, Cleveland, Houston, Fort Worth, Rhome; and WI – Tomah. This project projects to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 86,085,412 gallons per year. As a core pillar of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action in history. It is also the largest single investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.

-Bulk Petroleum Corporation received a $5,000,000 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Bulk Petroleum Corporation is the owner of more than 10 fueling stations. This project will install 73 E15 dispensers, 7 E85 dispensers, 33 B20 dispensers, 31 ethanol storage tanks, and 22 biodiesel storage tanks at 24 fueling stations located in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. Station locations impacted by this grant are: IA – Davenport (2); IN – Columbus, North Vernon, Nineveh, and Bedford; KY – Louisville; MI – Lansing, and Grand Rapids (3); WI – Green Bay (3), Wisconsin Rapids (2), Black River Falls, Sheboygan Falls, Two Rivers, Sturgeon Bay, Milwaukee (2), Oak Creek, Sheboygan, Luxemburg, and Cudahy. This project projects to increase the amount of biofuels sold by 7,841,796 gallons per year.