RFA helps retailers win $36M in latest round of HBIIP grants
Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently concluded the latest round of its Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), and once again the Renewable Fuels Association helped dozens of retailers apply for, and win, grant awards that will expand the availability of higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85 flex fuel. During the latest round, RFA hosted eight webinars with petroleum marketing groups from Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa, and worked with more than 40 retailers on applications. All tallied, RFA helped companies file grant applications resulting in almost $36 million in funding for facilities in 17 states: Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, California, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. “Grant opportunities like this enable businesses to plan for the future and join the crusade to provide cleaner, more affordable fuel options at the pump. RFA thanks USDA for its continued commitment to expanding opportunities for our nation’s ethanol producers, farmers, fuel retailers, and consumers.” RFA has had a 100 percent success rate in assisting retailers in applying for and receiving grants under this program and has now secured more than $275 million in public and private resources for the expansion of higher ethanol blend infrastructure.