USDA is seeking public input to help with the creation of the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), a new program that will expand the availability of domestic ethanol and biodiesel by incentivizing the expansion of sales of renewable fuels.

“Feedback from farmers, retailers and biofuels producers is critical to the success of this future program,” said Agriculture Secretary Perdue.

This Request for Information solicits information on options for fuel ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure, innovation, products, technology, and data derived from all HBIIP processes and/or science that drive economic growth, promote health, and increase public benefit.

This RFI is intended to gather suggestions on areas of greatest priority within the HBIIP, as well as past or future federal government efforts to build, promote, and sustain the sale and use of renewable fuels. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform USDA as well as private sector and other stakeholders with interest in and expertise relating to such a promotion.

A full description of the RFI is available on page 2699 of the Jan. 16, 2020, Federal Register.

“We appreciate the USDA’s outreach, and we look forward to sharing our insights on efforts to expand the availability of cleaner, lower-cost fuel options," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "Restoring integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard and breaking down market barriers to higher ethanol blends are pillars of the president’s commitment to farm families and rural workers, and positive results are well overdue. Smart infrastructure investments will support rural jobs and allow more drivers across the nation to take advantage of the administration’s move to unleash sales of E15 year-round.” 

This effort will build on biofuels infrastructure investments and experience gained through the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership. USDA administered BIP from 2016-2019 through state and private partners to expand the availability of E15 and E85 infrastructure to make available higher ethanol blends at retail gas stations around the country. 

Growth Energy has been building the infrastructure to deliver higher biofuel blends to consumers. Working with Prime the Pump, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping build the infrastructure and distribution of higher biofuel blends, Growth Energy has doubled the number of E15 stations five years in a row to include more than 2,000 stations across 30 states.

Source: USDA, Growth Energy, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.