DES MOINES — Iowa is directing more than $2 million in public cost-share money to private fuel retailers for 38 projects intended to increase sales of E15 ethanol and biodiesel.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Thursday, August 7, 2026, that the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Board approved the grants during its July 29 meeting.
The latest spending package includes:
24 E15 projects receiving $1,426,732.11
14 biodiesel projects receiving $604,212.84
Total public cost-share awards of $2,030,944.95
The projects are spread across 24 Iowa counties. Individual E15 awards reach as high as $75,000, while biodiesel awards reach $50,000.
The state describes the payments as cost-share grants because retailers are also expected to invest money in the projects. The public money helps businesses install, replace or convert tanks, pumps and related equipment needed to sell higher blends of renewable fuel.
The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program has operated since 2006. According to the Department of Agriculture, Iowa has invested more than $74 million through the program while leveraging over $280 million in private spending.
The state’s latest grants include several Northern Iowa projects.
Alta Vista Express in Chickasaw County was awarded $46,297.80 for E15 infrastructure and $36,009.40 for biodiesel equipment, producing a combined public award of $82,307.20.
Pronto Market in Sumner will receive $24,315 for an E15 project.
Brew Oil LLC was awarded $37,180.40 for E15 infrastructure in Spencer and a combined $123,704.55 for E15 and biodiesel projects in Spirit Lake.
New Cooperative Inc. will receive $50,000 for a biodiesel project in West Bend, while Brew Oil will receive $22,379.98 for an E15 project in Hartley.
The state also approved $50,000 for an APS LLC biodiesel project in Fort Dodge.
Several recipients were approved for more than one grant, and Brew Oil received awards for projects in numerous communities.
Naig promotes ethanol benefits
Naig argued that the grants help drivers access fuel that generally sells for less than conventional E10 gasoline while creating additional demand for corn and soybeans.
He said every fueling system installed or upgraded creates another location where motorists may purchase the blend.
E15, commonly marketed as Unleaded 88, consists of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. E10 contains 10 percent ethanol.
Naig also said ethanol and biodiesel support farmers, rural employment and Iowa communities while providing cleaner-burning alternatives to conventional petroleum fuels.
Iowa reportedly has more than 1,100 stations offering E15, more than any other state.
The Agriculture Department estimates that Iowa motorists saved more than $60 million in 2025 by purchasing E15 instead of E10. It places the estimated three-year savings at more than $126.5 million.
Those savings describe the difference between retail fuel prices and do not subtract the taxpayer money used to subsidize infrastructure.
State policy has increasingly encouraged—and in many cases required—retailers to make E15 available. Iowa’s E15 Access Standard generally took effect January 1, 2026, although state records show hundreds of exemptions and waivers.
Naig is also calling on Congress to approve nationwide, year-round E15 sales.
This is not Iowa’s first multimillion-dollar round of renewable-fuel infrastructure spending. In December 2025, NIT reported that Iowa approved another large package covering more than 100 biofuel projects.
A previous round announced in 2024 directed nearly $6.35 million to 126 projects. That package included almost $4.5 million for ethanol infrastructure and more than $1.8 million for biodiesel projects.
Federal taxpayers have also financed renewable-fuel expansion in Iowa. In 2024, the federal government awarded more than $3.1 million for six Iowa biofuel infrastructure projects.
Complete list of newly approved grants
Benton County
Scheetz Group LLC, Atkins — E15 — $75,000
Black Hawk County
New Star, Raymond — E15 — $75,000
Bremer County
Pronto Market, Sumner — E15 — $24,315
Buena Vista County
Brew Oil LLC, Storm Lake — Biodiesel — $14,413
Brew Oil LLC, Storm Lake — E15 — $52,846
Chickasaw County
Alta Vista Express, Alta Vista — E15 — $46,297.80
Alta Vista Express, Alta Vista — Biodiesel — $36,009.40
Clay County
Brew Oil LLC, Spencer — E15 — $37,180.40
Crawford County
Brew Oil LLC, Denison — E15 — $55,064.55
Delaware County
McDermott Oil Company, Earlville — Biodiesel — $50,000
Dickinson County
Brew Oil LLC, Spirit Lake — Biodiesel — $50,000
Brew Oil LLC, Spirit Lake — E15 — $73,704.55
Hamilton County
Brew Oil LLC, Webster City — Biodiesel — $50,000
Brew Oil LLC, Webster City — E15 — $75,000
Williams LLC, Williams — E15 — $75,000
Williams LLC, Williams — Biodiesel — $50,000
Jackson County
C&D Car Wash LLC, Bellevue — E15 — $75,000
C&D Car Wash LLC, Bellevue — Biodiesel — $50,000
Parin LLC, doing business as Preston Country Store, Preston — E15 — $74,415.74
Parin LLC, doing business as Preston Country Store, Preston — Biodiesel — $18,915.74
Johnson County
Mega Retail 2 LLC, Iowa City — E15 — $26,630
Linn County
D&D Marion LLC, Marion — E15 — $75,000
D&D Marion LLC, Marion — Biodiesel — $50,000
Molo Petroleum, Hiawatha — Biodiesel — $50,000
Mount Vernon Retail LLC, Mount Vernon — E15 — $75,000
Mahaska County
Brew Oil LLC, Oskaloosa — E15 — $75,000
Marion County
Furnal Inc., doing business as Stubbs Petroleum, Columbia — E15 — $44,478
Furnal Inc., doing business as Stubbs Petroleum, Columbia — Biodiesel — $34,874.70
Marshall County
Brew Oil LLC, Marshalltown — E15 — $75,000
Brew Oil LLC, Marshalltown — Biodiesel — $50,000
O’Brien County
Brew Oil LLC, Hartley — E15 — $22,379.98
Palo Alto County
New Cooperative Inc., West Bend — Biodiesel — $50,000
Polk County
H&A Mini Mart, Des Moines — E15 — $75,000
Pottawattamie County
Eagles Landing Avoca LLC, Avoca — E15 — $39,399.50
Scott County
Y R Inc., Bettendorf — E15 — $75,000
Sioux County
Noteboom Oil, Orange City — E15 — $30,020.59
Story County
Sunshine Energy 35, Story City — E15 — $75,000
Webster County
APS LLC, Fort Dodge — Biodiesel — $50,000