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Gov. Tim Walz renews his call for support of a proposed $2 million grant program for biofuel infrastructure.

Paula Mohr, Editor, The Farmer

April 22, 2021

2 Min Read
Man using ethanol pump
MORE PUMPS: Grant funding of $1 million approved by Minnesota’s farmer-led corn organizations will support the expansion of blender pumps at fuel stations across the state. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz also has proposed an investment of $2 million per year in an infrastructure grant program, too. Courtesy of MCGA

Minnesota growers and state leaders recently promoted support of the state’s biofuels industry.

The Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and Minnesota Corn Growers Association announced a commitment of $1 million to a future state biofuels infrastructure grant program. The program, to be administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, would expand access to higher blends of ethanol in the state.

Gov. Tim Walz, along with biofuels supporters attending the media event, urged passage of the Governor’s Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program budget proposal that includes an investment of $2 million per year to fund the Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program to increase access to ethanol and biodiesel across the state. The grants would give service station owners across Minnesota funding to install the equipment needed to ramp up use of higher blends of biofuels, such as E15, E30 and E85.

Jim O’Connor, a farmer from Blooming Prairie, Minn., and chair of the MCR&PC, noted that Minnesota has long been a leader in the adoption and use of cleaner-burning ethanol.

“We are pleased to make an early commitment to this future public-private infrastructure partnership that will benefit not only farmers and rural communities, but all Minnesotans,” O’Connor said.

Higher blends of ethanol in transportation fuel reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46%, deliver higher octane at a lower cost, and provide significant economic benefits across the state.

Both MCR&PC and MCGA have provided grants to retailers to replace or upgrade fuel infrastructure for higher blends of blends of ethanol. Since 2008, the organizations have invested nearly $28 million in ethanol infrastructure, research and education.

Ethanol blends win for consumers, station owners

Walz and several farmers highlighted renewable fuel efforts at a Holiday Station in New Hope, Minn. Owner Chris Robbins received a state grant enabling him to upgrade his facility to offer E15, E30 and E85 fuels.

“E15 has been a huge success for our location,” said Robbins. “It is cheaper for consumers; it supports a homegrown, renewable resource and our Minnesota economy; it reduces our dependence on foreign oil; and it reduces harmful greenhouse gases.”

Conventional corn-starch ethanol can reduce greenhouse gases by as much as 48%, compared to gasoline. Proponents say that advanced biofuels made from feedstocks such as cellulose can reduce GHGs even more.

Minnesota’s ethanol industry generated $4.4 billion in revenue in 2020 and supports nearly 14,500 jobs — including an estimated 3,600 jobs in agriculture and 3,900 jobs indirectly supported in the corn production supply chain.

To learn more about higher blends of ethanol or to find a station near you, visit betterfuel.org.

To learn more about the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and Minnesota Corn Growers Association, visit mncorn.org.

Minnesota Corn and the Office of Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan contributed to this story.

 

 

About the Author(s)

Paula Mohr

Editor, The Farmer

Mohr is former editor of The Farmer.

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