USDA awards nearly $4.2 million in infrastructure grants to expand biofuels availability in Iowa

Photo: Jenna Rose, Iowa Biodiesel Board

The USDA announced six grants April 7 made through the Higher Blends Infrastructure and Incentive Program totaling nearly $4.2 million to help build out biofuels distribution in Iowa.

The investments will create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels.

The purpose of this funding program is to assist owners of transportation fueling and fuel distribution facilities in expanding the sale and use of ethanol and biodiesel.

The six grant recipients and awards are below.

Rainbo Oil Co.—$589,648

This project will retrofit eight E15 dispensers, install four E15 dispensers, eight B20 dispensers, two ethanol storage tanks and one biodiesel storage tank across five fueling stations located in Iowa.

Station locations impacted by this grant are Delhi in Delaware County, Iowa, and four stations in Dubuque in Dubuque County, Iowa.

This project is projected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 576,909 gallons per year.

Multi-County Oil Co.—$411,108

This project will install two E15 dispensers, two E85 dispensers, two B20 dispensers, one ethanol storage tank and one biodiesel storage tank at two fueling stations located in Iowa.

Station locations impacted by this grant are North English and Keswick in Keokuk County, Iowa.

This project is projected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 710,345 gallons per year.

C&D Car Wash LLC—$411,000

This project will install three E15 dispensers, one B20 dispenser, one ethanol storage tank and one biodiesel storage tank at one fueling station in Bellevue in Jackson County, Iowa.

This project is projected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 305,193 gallons per year.

Butler Truck Oasis LLC—$573,375

This project will install four E15 dispensers, four E85 dispensers and five B20 dispensers at one fueling station in Shell Rock in Butler County, Iowa.

This project is projected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by more than 1.7 million gallons per year.

Prime Stop Inc.—$238,500

This project will install three E15 dispensers and one ethanol storage tank at one fueling station in Melbourne in Marshall County, Iowa.

This project is projected to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 148,992 gallons per year.

Molo Petroleum LLC—$1.95 million

This project will install 30 E15 dispensers, six B20 dispensers, four ethanol storage tanks and four biodiesel storage tanks at seven fueling stations.

Station locations impacted by this grant are in Eldridge, Bettendorf, and Davenport in Scott County, Iowa; Hiawatha in Linn County, Iowa; Dubuque in Dubuque County, Iowa; and East Moline in Rock Island County, Illinois.

This project is projected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by nearly 2.8 million gallons per year.