Minneapolis, Oct 3 - The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) helped 15 fuel retailers in the Twin Cities metro area in applying for biofuel infrastructure grants that were recently awarded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
On Sept 30, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced it was providing over $6.4 million in grant funding to 44 stations in the state to offset the cost of investing in upgraded retail petroleum dispensers, fuel storage tanks and other compatible equipment to offer E15 and other higher blends of ethanol.
“One of the largest barriers preventing consumer access to higher blends of ethanol like E15 is the lack of infrastructure at the retail level. That’s why we helped 15 fuel retailers go through the grant application process for the Biofuel Infrastructure Grant Program. We are pleased that they were awarded grant funding and will soon be offering E15, which provides consumers with savings at the pump, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, strengthens Minnesota’s economy and makes us more energy independent,” said Brian Werner, executive director at MN Bio-Fuels.
The grants were from the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program. An additional $1 million in funding for the grant program was provided by Minnesota Corn.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the 44 grantees are receiving awards that range from approximately $83,000 to $199,000. It said all grantees are Minnesota retail petroleum stations with no more than 10 sites.
In the first seven months of 2022, 57.12 million gallons of E15 was sold in Minnesota, 19.4 percent higher than the 47.83 million gallons sold over the same period in 2021.
To learn more about the AGRI Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program, click here.
To learn more on the recipients of the AGRI Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program, click here.
Picture caption: Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Thom Peterson, announcing the grants at the Super Gas USA station in Burnsville on Sept 30.