Monday, May 18, 2020 – U.S. Deputy of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online portal to begin accepting applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants. The program is designed to expand the availability of higher blends of both ethanol and biodiesel to retail consumers. The USDA is offering up to $100 million in grants to help transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities convert to higher ethanol and biodiesel blends by sharing the costs for installation of compatible fuel dispensers and related underground storage tank equipment and infrastructure. USDA is making grants available for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but not more than $5 million per project. According to the USDA, approximately $86 million is available for implementation activities related to higher blends of fuel ethanol, and approximately $14 million for higher blends of biodiesel. Higher biofuel blends are fuels containing ethanol greater than 10 percent ethanol and greater than 5 percent biodiesel. Eligible recipients include, but are not limited to, vehicle fueling facilities, local fueling stations/locations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, fleet facilities (cardlocks), fuel terminal operations, midstream partners and/or distribution facilities.

All applications must be filed electronically. The USDA will not accept paper applications. The deadline for submitting electronic applications is August 13, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Electronic applications and detail about upcoming webinars being held tomorrow and on May 26 are found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/hbiip. 

For more information or questions contact Mark. S. Morgan, PMAA Regulatory Counsel @ mmorgan@pmaa.org.