MINNEAPOLIS — On Thursday, the second anniversary of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is funding 160 projects in 26 states to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels that will create new market opportunities and jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.
The projects will increase American energy security and advance President Biden’s "Investing in America" agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up.
USDA is providing $99.6 million through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis. To date, USDA has invested more than $600 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for more than 4,500 clean energy projects through REAP, and more than $180 million in more than 200 projects that increase availability of domestic biofuels across the country.
“The Biden-Harris administration is lowering costs for rural Americans and giving people in rural areas the historic opportunity to expand clean energy and build an economy that benefits working families and small businesses,” Vilsack said. “By expanding access to homegrown biofuels and clean energy systems, we are strengthening our energy independence, addressing the impacts of climate change and creating new market opportunities and revenue streams for American producers while bringing good-paying jobs in rural communities.”
Vilsack made the announcement during a visit to Minnesota, which included an Investing in the American Bioeconomy discussion at the University of Minnesota and a visit to The Corner Store in Inver Grove Heights, which is receiving a $518,250 HBIIP grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project will install four E15 dispensers, four E85 dispensers, and two ethanol storage tanks at this fueling station. This project projects to increase the amount of ethanol sold by 506,100 gallons per year.
Also in Minnesota, USDA is awarding $9.2 million in REAP grants to 71 projects across the state. This program helps farmers and small business owners expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy and make energy efficiency improvements. For example:
- In Longville, Raveling Outdoors LLC will use a $59,475 REAP grant to install a 45-kilowatt solar array for the company’s boat construction business. This project is expected to save the business nearly $9,000 in electrical costs per year and replace 52,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
- In Waltham, Moe Family Farm LLC will use a $10,812 REAP grant to install an energy efficient shop heater. This project is expected to save the business $1,000 in electrical costs per year and replace 37,300 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
The REAP program will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
As part of today’s announcement, USDA is also awarding $90.3 million in HBIIP grants to 89 projects in 26 states. These investments will help business owners install and upgrade infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. They will also spur economic growth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets and lowering costs through clean energy projects:
- In Georgia, CSX Transportation Inc. will use a $1.9 million grant to install a 200-gallon biodiesel aboveground storage tank, distribution equipment and electric monitoring tools. Using this investment, the company aims to increase the amount of available biofuels by 1 million gallons per year.
- In Nevada, Anabi Real Estate Development LLC will use a $3.7 million grant to install three E85 dispensers and three B20 dispensers at two fueling stations. Through this project, the company aims to increase the amount of biofuel it sells by more than 80,000 gallons per year.
USDA continues to accept HBIIP applications until Sept. 30, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET. For more information, go to the HBIIP webpage.
Thursday's announcement includes investments in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, USDA has invested more than $220 million nationwide to increase access to biofuels at fueling stations and more than $2.2 billion in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.
