ALTOONA, Iowa, Jan. 12, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Agency is awarding $14,943,812 in grants to three U.S. companies with locations in Iowa. The grants will increase the availability of domestic biofuels and give Iowans cleaner, more affordable fuel options at gas station pumps as part of President Biden’s Bidenomics agenda to lower costs and invest in America.

The Department is making the awards through the Higher Blends Infrastructure   Incentive Program (HBIIP), made possible with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

“The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners to help expand access to domestic biofuels. These grants will help owners install and upgrade their fueling pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks,” said Director Greenfield. “At over 75 fueling stations across Iowa, families will have more options and will have lower costs to purchase homegrown biofuels.”

Today’s announcement is part of a larger national announcement made by USDA Secretary Vilsack during his visit to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona on January 11^th. Secretary Vilsack was awarded the Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels Award by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association during the summit.

Award Recipients with Ties to Iowa

–Casey’s General Store Inc. received a $4,999,992 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Casey’s General Stores, Inc is the owner of more than 10 fueling stations. This project will install 456 E15 dispensers at 111fueling stations located in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Among the area Casey’s locations impacted by the grant, are those in: Atlantic, Carroll, Clarinda, Corning, Essex, Lenox, Mapleton, Onawa, Sidney, Villisca, Winterset, and Woodbine. Projections show the grant will serve to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 49,084,590 gallons per year.

–Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. received a $4,943,820 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc is the owner of more than 10 fueling stations. This project will retrofit 704 E15 dispensers at 88 fueling stations located in 17 states, including one in Sioux City, Iowa. The grant is projected to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 86,085,412 gallons per year.  As a core pillar of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action in history. It is also the largest single investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.

–Bulk Petroleum Corporation received a $5,000,000 grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Bulk Petroleum Corporation is the owner of more than 10 fueling stations. The project will install 73 E15 dispensers, including two in Davenport. The project aims to increase the amount of biofuels sold by 7,841,796 gallons per year.