Iowa has launched a new program for retailers to assist them in adding infrastructure to sell higher ethanol blends – Fueling Our Future 100. The initiative is a partnership between state government, including collaboration between the Governor’s office, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Transportation, and Iowa Economic Development Authority. There are $400,000 dollars available to retailers to assist with the purchase and installation of blender pumps and underground storage tank infrastructure for higher blends of ethanol such as E15, E30 and E85.

Applications must be received at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s office by 4 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2016. Pumps and tanks funded through this program are currently required to be operational by December 30, 2016 and continue operations for the intended purpose of dispensing higher blends of ethanol through December 31, 2021.

“Iowa retailers have shown a willingness to invest in infrastructure to deliver renewable fuels and customers have shown they are interested in choosing to increase the amount of clean burning, homegrown renewable fuels they use,” said Iowa Secretary of Ag Bill Northey who announced the funding availability. “Through this program we have supported the installation of more than 200 blender pumps and 24 underground storage tanks and now have some additional funds to add even more.”

Iowa received a $5 million competitive grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) program to support the initiative. These funds must be matched by non-federal funds, including $2.5 million from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP). The fueling sites applying for assistance will also be required to provide a minimum of $2.5 million.