Naig: USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program Good for Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry

DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 28, 2020) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement in response to the USDA’s proposed Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) announced earlier today.

“The proposed Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program from USDA would give consumers more choices at the pump, create more jobs in rural communities and benefit our farmers,” said Secretary Naig. “This USDA program would build upon Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, which has been tremendously successful. For every dollar the state has invested in renewable fuel infrastructure, it has spurred nearly $6 in private investments. Now consumers have access to E15 at 1,800 fuel retailers in Iowa.”

On Jan. 31, 2020, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary Naig sent a joint letter to USDA voicing support for the HBIIP.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program offers cost-share grants to help fuel retailers install E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. To date, the program has distributed or obligated over $33 million with $200 million added in private economic activity. The grant program is managed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Learn more about the state’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program at iowaagriculture.gov.