USDA Announces State Finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership 1 USDA News ... 

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USDA 

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United States Department of Agriculture 

Office of Communications 

1400 Independence Ave, SW 

Washingtofl, DC 20250-1300 

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www.usda.gov 

Release No. 0249.15 

News Release 

Contact: 

Office of Communications (202)720-462 3 

USDA Announces State Finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Sept. I 0, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vii sack today announced that 21 states 

will receive grants through the Biofuel lntl·astructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to 

supply more renewable fuel to America's drivers. Since announcing the program in May 2015, the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) received applications requesting over 

$130 million, outpacing the $100 million that is available. With a more than I: I match from private and state 

resources, USDA estimates that the BIP grants will support nearly 5,000 pumps at over I ,400 fueling 

stations across the country. 

"The quality and geographic diversity of the applications, backed by supportive state and private 

partners, demonstrate the strong demand across the country for cleaner, more affordable fuel," said Secretary 

Vilsack. "The Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership is one approach USDA is using to aggressively pursue 

investments in American-grown renewable energy to create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help 

Americans save money on their energy bills, support America's clean energy economy, cut carbon pollution 

and reduce dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels." 

A typical gas pump delivers fuel with I 0 percent ethanol, which limits the amount of renewable energy 

most consumers can purchase at the pump. USDA estimates that this-investment will more than double the 

number of stations that offer intermediate blends of ethanol, mainly E 15 fuel levels, nationwide. 

Through BIP, USDA will award competitive grants, matched by states, to expand the infrastructure for 

distribution of higher blends of ethanol. BIP funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation must be used to 

pay a portion of the costs related to the installation of fuel pumps and related infrastructure dedicated to the 

distribution of higher ethanol blends, for example E 15 and E85, at vehicle fueling locations. The matching 

contributions may be used for these items or for related costs such as additional infrastructure to support 

pumps, marketing, education, data collection, program evaluation and administrative costs. This partnership 

will expand markets for farmers, support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and 

ultimately give consumers more choices at the pump. 

For a preliminary list of state finalists and estimated pumps view the Biofuellnfrastructure PartnershipState Table. 

Funding amounts for each state will be announced at a later date. For more information about BIP, visit 

the Energy Programs website. 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: 

USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 

(Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). 

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