DAVIS, Calif. Jan. 11, 2024 – USDA Rural Development California State Director Maria Gallegos Herrera today announced USDA is awarding a $3.5 million grant to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in California, thereby giving Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options at gas station pumps.
“Today’s announcement is part of President Biden and USDA’s efforts to establish an economy that works for Californians,” Gallegos Herrera said. “We’ll continue to support options, programs, and investments that create new market opportunities and lower costs for individuals and families across California.”
Tristar FLC Inc. will use a $3.5 million grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. Using this investment, the company expects to increase the amount of biodiesel sold by 24 million gallons a year.
Today’s investment is included in a national announcement in which USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack shared that USDA is awarding $19 million in grants to U.S. business owners in 22 states.
The Department is making the awards through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The program provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities, to help expand access to domestic biofuels, a clean and affordable source of energy. These grants will support the infrastructure needed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for transportation fueling and distribution facilities to install and upgrade biofuel-related infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. There are three quarterly application windows left, and the program ends Sept. 30, 2024.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ca. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.