Under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), USDA will release nearly $260 million in grants for ethanol and biodiesel projects. The funding is from a pot of $537 million in unfulfilled grants for 543 projects in 29 States. With the newly released grants, USDA underscores its commitment to fortifying rural communities “and their essential role in building a stronger, more energy secure America.”
To install storage tanks and dispensers for ethanol and biodiesel, individual companies will receive 17 HBIIP grants worth $19.7 million in Iowa and, in California, 57 grants for State projects worth $68.1 million. As noted by Transport Topics, Iowa’s 10 biodiesel plants produce 416 million gallons annually, making Iowa the foremost U.S. producer of ethanol and biodiesel.
Among several multistate companies awarded HBIIP grants, Anabi Real Estate Development will receive $4.3 million for installations across 22 fueling stations in California, Florida, and Nevada. All the grants are expected to boost biofuels production, which in turn, would raise demand for transporting biofuels.