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USDA Invests $500,000 in Biofuel Infrastructure to Expand Availability of Higher-Blend Renewable Fuels in Nebraska

Name
Nikki Gillespie
City
LINCOLN
Release Date

Projects Will Increase Availability of Biofuels by 5.2 Million Gallons Annually

LINCOLN, Aug. 19, 2021 – Nebraska Acting State Director for Rural Development Kim Martini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $496,000  to build infrastructure to expand the availability of higher-blend renewable biofuels by 5.2 million gallons annually at 35 new dispensers in Nebraska.

USDA is making the awards under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The funding will help significantly increase the use of biofuels derived from U.S. agricultural products and prioritize climate-smart solutions that will help rural America build back better.

“Increasing opportunities for climate-smart decisions can help to decrease the human footprint as a whole, which is the ultimate goal of today’s investments,” Martini said. “Biofuels contribute to energy security, reduce air pollution, and support rural economic development as an important market for U.S. feedstock producers.”

Projects include:

  • Whitehead Oil Company will use a $275,000 grant to install 17 dispensers at a fueling station in Lincoln, Nebr. This project is expected to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 3.8 million gallons per year.
  • Wilkinson Development Inc. will use a $221,000 grant to replace 18 dispensers and two storage tanks at two fueling stations in Lexington and Lincoln, Nebr. This project is expected to increase the amount of the ethanol sold by 1.4 million gallons per year.

Today’s awards are in coordination with Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson’s nationwide announcement that USDA is investing $26 million to expand availability of higher-blend renewable biofuels by 822 million gallons annually in 23 states, including: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin.

Background:

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. To date, USDA has invested $66.4 million for projects that are expected to increase biofuels sales by 1.2 billion gallons annually.

Through this program, USDA helps transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities offer higher ethanol and biodiesel blends to customers by sharing the costs to install fuel pumps, equipment and infrastructure. For more information on the program, visit www.rd.usda.gov/hbiip.

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/ne.

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

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