Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program

What does this program do?

The purpose of the HBIIP is to increase significantly the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products.

The program is also intended to encourage a more comprehensive approach to market higher blends by sharing the costs related to building out biofuel-related infrastructure.

Who may apply?

Transportation fueling facilities including:

• Fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, fleet facilities (including rail and marine), and similar entities with capital investments;

Fuel distribution facilities, such as:

• Terminal operations, depots, and midstream partners, and similarly equivalent operations.

What funding is available?

Under HBIIP, approximately $100 million is made available to:

• Fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, fleet facilities, and similar entities with capital investments) for eligible implementation activities related to higher blends of fuel ethanol greater than 10 percent ethanol, such as E15 or higher, and biodiesel greater than 5 percent biodiesel, such as B20 or higher; and
• Terminal operations, depots, and midstream partners, for eligible implementation activities related to higher blends of fuel ethanol greater than 10 percent ethanol, such as E15 or higher, and biodiesel greater than 5 percent biodiesel, such as B20 or higher.

What are the terms?

Awards to successful applicants will be in the form of cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but not to exceed $5 million, whichever is less.

What's new?

These changes were made to help improve HBIIP:

• Make approximately $75 million available to transportation fueling facilities and $25 million available to fuel distribution facilities.
• Include rail and marine as eligible fleet facility applicants under transportation fueling facilities.
• Include higher blends of ethanol (greater than 10 percent) as an eligible project for fuel distribution facility applicants.
• Updated capped costs for fuel dispensers and fuel storage tanks for transportation fueling facility applicants.
• Increase Federal cost share for replacing or installing fuel storage tanks at existing transportation fueling facilities from 25 percent to 50 percent.
• Allow costs to be incurred once a complete application is submitted, however no construction can begin until the Agency completes its environmental review.
• Streamlined the environmental review process for applications containing multiple site locations. 
• Increase grant disbursement period from 18 months to 36 months
   

How do we get started?

Click the “To Apply” tab above for application instructions and other resources.

Who can answer questions?

Jeff Carpenter
(402) 318-8195
HBIIP@usda.gov

Persons with disabilities that require alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202)720–2600 (voice).

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps increase American energy independence. It increases the private sector supply of renewable energy.

This program will share the costs related to the upgrading of fuel dispensers (gas and diesel pumps), related equipment, and other infrastructure required at a location to ensure the environmentally safe availability of fuel containing ethanol blends greater than 10 percent or fuel containing biodiesel blends greater than 5 percent.

NOTE: Because citations and other information may be subject to change, please always consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled “What law governs this program?” You may also contact your local office for assistance.