Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with 21 states through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to almost double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply renewable fuels to American motorists.
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The USDA says a typical gas pump delivers 10 percent ethanol, but the grants will help install pumps that offer higher blends of ethanol for more recently made vehicles. The department estimates the awards announced today will expand infrastructure by almost 5,000 pumps – most offering intermediate blends of corn-based ethanol such as E15 – at over 1,400 fueling stations. He called it “one more example of how federal funds can be leveraged by state and private partners to deliver better and farther-reaching outcomes for taxpayers”.
The final announcement comes just six months after USDA announced the availability of 0 million in grants through the BIP.
Biofuel infrastructure development is an important aspect to the USDA’s efforts promoting lower energy costs, the clean energy sector, lower carbon pollution levels and less dependence on oil and fossil fuels.
Ethanol is generally made from corn or grain sorghum in the United States and is the same alcohol as in wine, beer and liquor.
South Dakota received $1.5 million, with North Dakota at $1.2 million. While we celebrate this program, we will continue to push the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to uphold the statutory volumes of ethanol required under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Joining Vilsack today in Florida was Tom Buis, a co-chair of the ethanol industry group Growth Energy.
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The announcement also comes as USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist releases a comprehensive report on ethanol.
