USDA announces Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Wednesday the 21 states that will receive a total of $100 million funded through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP).

The money is expected to almost double renewable fuel pumps in the country. Currently, a typical gas pump delivers fuel with 10 percent ethanol, which limits the amount of renewable energy that consumers can purchase. The new partnership will increase the number of pumps, storage and related infrastructure that offer higher blends of ethanol, such as E15, E85, and even intermediate combination blends.

"This major investment in renewable energy infrastructure will give Americans more options that not only will suit their pocketbooks, but also will reduce our country's environmental impact and bolster our rural economy," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who made the announcement at a ceremony in Kissimmee, Florida. "The Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership is one more example of how federal funds can be leveraged by state and private partners to deliver better and farther reaching outcomes for taxpayers.”

Applications for BIP funding outstripped the available $100 million by $30 million, and due to a 1 to 1 ratio matching requirement, the total investment in biofuel infrastructure will be $210 million.

“The volume and diverse geographic locations of partners willing to support this infrastructure demonstrate the demand across the country for lower cost, cleaner, American-made fuels,” Vilsack said. “Consumers will begin to see more of these pumps in a matter of months."

The BIP participating states are: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.