Written on: April 28, 2021 by ICM
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development sector has awarded $18.4 million in cost-sharing grants to fuel marketers across 20 states under its new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).
The HBIIP was established in early 2020 to encourage infrastructure investments to support high blends of renewable fuels, including biodiesel. The New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) urged the USDA to include wholesale and retail heating oil marketers. Of the amount announced last week, 28% ($5.24 million) was awarded to several large fuel suppliers in the Northeast, all of which are NEFI members.
“We are grateful that our efforts have paid off,” said NEFI President & CEO Sean Cota. “The USDA is recognizing our industry’s efforts to cost-effectively reduce emissions,” he said. “More can be done with the right incentives and we will continue to educate the Biden administration, federal agencies, and members of Congress that our industry is valuable part of the solution to its environmental priorities—not the problem.”
More information on the HBIIP can be found online here.
