Iowa further expands access to biofuels with more RFIP grants

Iowa’s cost-share Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program recently awarded $1.86 million in grants for 48 applicants to add biofuels to retail sites.

Four applications aimed to add B11 at select sites, while the remaining 44 focused on expanding E15 availability at retail locations. 

“Following RFIP’s latest round of grant awards in July, it is exciting to see even more retailers take advantage of this opportunity to provide biofuels to customers,” said Lisa Coffelt, IRFA’s marketing director who sits on the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Board. 

To qualify for the program, biodiesel retailers must use the infrastructure to offer biodiesel-blended fuel classified as B11(11 percent biodiesel) or higher.

During colder months, retailers can offer B5.

Ethanol retailers can qualify for E15 and higher blends. 

To date, the program has granted over $61 million to help fund ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure across Iowa, allowing retailers to add necessary equipment to their stations to offer higher blends of biofuels.

The Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Board consists of voting members appointed by Iowa’s governor.

IRFA represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth.

Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually—including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity—and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually.