Iowa biofuel industry to receive over $14 million from USDA

Gas stations and energy companies received over $14 million to increase biofuel accessibility. (Photo by Jim Obradovich for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced over $14 million in grants for 19 projects in Iowa designed to increase availability and access to biofuels.

According to the USDA press release, these grants will create jobs, lower costs and promote clean energy all the while increasing access to biofuels.

USDA Director Theresa Greenfield said in the press release that promoting biofuel energy is the way to both lower energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“By providing fuel station and distribution facility owners with grants to install and upgrade infrastructure, USDA is helping folks find lower prices at the pump,” Greenfield said in the press release. “The Biden-Harris Administration is working to lower costs for rural Iowans while addressing the impacts of climate change. These projects announced today help create good-paying jobs and new market opportunities in rural Iowa.”

The grants come from the Higher Blends Infrastructure Investments Program which is part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Casey’s General Store received the largest grant, over $3.5 million, to install biofuel dispensers at stores across more than 125 cities in Iowa.

Mulgrew Oil Company earned the second-highest grant of $2 million, which will be used to install about 30,000 biofuel storage tanks and loading equipment at their facility in Davenport. These installations will increase the number of biofuels sold by 7.3 million gallons per year, according to the press release.

A 20th project funding some areas of Iowa was also announced. Qwik Trip received nearly $10 million to install biofuel dispensers, ethanol storage tanks and biodiesel storage tanks across four states.

The funding going toward 60 locations throughout Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota is estimated to increase biofuel sales by nearly 37.8 million gallons per year.

The full list of awardees can be read here .

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