U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Iowa in her official capacity for the first time last month, unveiling a landmark $537 million investment to expand American biofuel infrastructure across 29 states. The announcement at Elite Octane‘s ethanol plant in Atlantic, where the company produces over 150 million gallons of ethanol annually, represents a significant commitment to strengthening America’s energy independence while creating jobs in rural communities.
The funding comes through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and will support 543 projects nationwide. The program aims to support the domestic infrastructure for producing renewable fuels sourced from American agricultural products, including higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. This investment will allow more retailers to offer higher ethanol blends, which will expand market access for Iowa’s corn and soybean growers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more readily available renewable fuels help “American families save money at the pump while reducing carbon emissions and harmful tailpipe pollution. Expanded use of higher blends of biofuels also boosts the availability of skilled jobs with good wages in rural communities and bolsters the employment of U.S. military veterans.”
Rollins highlighted the impact the funding will have for local Iowa communities: “USDA will deploy energy investments that prioritize the needs of our rural communities. Through HBIIP, we will expand access to domestic, homegrown fuels which will increase good paying jobs for hardworking Americans, restore rural prosperity and strengthen our nation’s energy security.”
Rollins explained during her visit, “These projects will provide the crucial and critical infrastructure needed to support the increased capacity for higher biofuel blends, allowing our gas stations to add pumps and storage tanks for E15 and E85. So, we’re doing some good stuff in Washington.” She emphasized Washington’s support for the American-made fuel: “The idea of ethanol and our corn growers, our soybean growers, is to diversify our energy to allow us to become energy-independent again.”
Iowa farmers will feel the benefit. Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, elaborated, “E15 is the largest untapped domestic market for American agriculture. Today’s announcement means farmers will benefit from higher demand and consumers will benefit from lower-cost options at the pump. . . By streamlining regulations, this will greatly speed up the adoption of E15 across the country while saving hundreds of millions of dollars in unneeded expenditures.”
Photo Courtesy Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
Iowa, which leads the nation in biofuel production, benefits considerably from this investment. The state has 42 ethanol plants with the capacity to produce more than 4.7 billion gallons per year and 10 biodiesel plants with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons.
Also in attendance at the announcement were Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn (R-IA-03) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
Sen. Joni Ernst thanked the secretary, reflecting, “I’ve worked hard to help develop and maintain HBIIP over the years to ensure that from Casey’s to your local mom-and-pop gas stations, retail store owners have the tools they need to deliver higher blends of biofuels at the pump, expanding access to homegrown fuels and choices for consumers.” She added that the new funding will support more than 275 Iowa stores and provide certainty for local biofuel producers and farmers.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks welcomed Secretary Rollins to Iowa, highlighting the state’s leadership in biofuels: “It was an honor to host Secretary Rollins and showcase how Iowa’s farmers and biofuels producers are powering America. This investment expands access to higher ethanol blends, strengthens energy independence, and supports our farm families.”
Six new biofuel infrastructure projects will be located in Iowa’s First District, with awards ranging from $834,000 to over $4 million. These investments are expected to increase ethanol and biodiesel sales across the region significantly. For example, Mac’s Convenience Stores will use its award to install 111 E15 dispensers and 23 ethanol storage tanks at 23 fueling stations, which the company expects to increase its annual ethanol sales by over 12 million gallons annually.
The biofuel investments will create jobs, “unleash” American energy, reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, and provide economic opportunities for rural communities. As Rollins said, “Here in the very heart of America, what you all stand for, what this amazing business behind me stands for, what our farmers and ranchers stand for is how we truly save the country, and we do believe that E15 is a big part of that.”
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