Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

A recent meeting of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board concluded by approving 68 infrastructure projects for a total of $3.2 million in state grants. The funds are to assist retailers in adding the infrastructure needed to offer higher blends of ethanol including E15 and biodiesel.

“Thanks to sound, forward-thinking state policy, many Iowans will soon have greater access to cleaner-burning, homegrown fuels, like E15, E85 and biodiesel,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Managing Director Lucy Norton. “The state’s biofuels infrastructure program has been very popular and wildly successful in expanding consumer access to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, as shown by the most recent round of grants.”

Adding that interest by retailers continues to grow each year, Norton said project funding is set to expire at the end of Iowa’s fiscal year on June 30, 2016.

“With more interest in this program from Iowa retailers than ever before, it’s imperative that this program receive continued funding to capitalize on the momentum for expanding higher blend levels of renewable fuels and provide motorists with more lower-cost, locally-produced choices at the pump,” Norton concluded.