Visit Of Homegrown Biofuels Facility Part of President’s Investing in America Agenda
PASCO, WASH, April 19, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden today had the opportunity to visit a biofuels facility that received funding through the first round of USDA investment from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to increase the availability of domestic biofuels and give Americans additional cleaner fuel options at the pump.
In December 2022, USDA made available $50 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding to expand the use and availability of higher-blend biofuels through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). Tidewater Terminal Company, a fuel distribution facility based out of Vancouver, Wash., was awarded a $3,072,696 grant in June 2023 that was used to help increase capacity for distribution at its Snake River Terminal in Pasco. Under Secretary Gooden was able to get a look at the progress in that investment.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA know that fighting climate change and creating economic prosperity go hand in hand,” USEC Gooden said. “As we approach Earth Day, we are focused on making unprecedented resources available to rural communities to do both. By partnering with businesses like Tidewater Terminal Company, we are expanding access to clean, affordable fuels and creating opportunities for farmers and other businesses in the Pacific Northwest and across the country.”
HBIIP seeks to increase the availability of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel derived from U.S. agricultural products by sharing the costs to build and retrofit biofuel-related infrastructure. Grants cover up to 75 percent or $5 million of the total project costs to help facilities convert to higher-blend fuels. The fuels must be greater than 10 percent for ethanol and greater than five percent for biodiesel.
"It was a great opportunity for us to see their progress," said Helen Price Johnson, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Washington State, who noted that upgrades will allow the Tidewater to increase the amount of biodiesel sold to over 12.1 million gallons per year. "This local investment from USDA plays a pivotal role in promoting our region’s energy resiliency and reducing our country’s dependence on fossil fuels. Together, we support the President's drive towards a future powered by lower carbon, homegrown fuels."
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