Biofuel infrastructure grant program recipients announced
Above: Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council Vice Chair Gary Prescher speaks during an event to announce the list of fueling stations receiving funds through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Biofuels Infrastructure Grant program.
Minnesota Corn is excited about today’s release of the list of fueling stations that are receiving funds through a Minnesota Corn-supported state biofuel infrastructure grant program.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced the 44 Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Biofuels Infrastructure Grant recipients at Super Gas USA in Burnsville. Super Gas USA is a grant recipient.
The 44 grantees cover most of Minnesota, from Elmore on the Iowa border to Waskish near Upper Red Lake. Seventeen of the fueling stations are in the Twin Cities, and 27 are in greater Minnesota.
Approved by the state Legislature in 2021, the program helps the 44 retailers offset costs associated with higher ethanol blends. These blends include Unleaded 88/E15, a fuel containing 15% ethanol. They also include E85, which contains 85% ethanol and can only be used in flex fuel vehicles.
Fueling stations are using the funds to offset the cost of investing in upgraded retail petroleum dispensers, fuel storage tanks, and other equipment. Stations are receiving between $83,000 and $199,000.
Funding for the program came from a $6 million allocation by the state Legislature. Minnesota Corn contributed an additional $1 million to the program.
MDA accepted funding proposals for the program this past spring.
Benefitting all Minnesotans
Gary Prescher, vice chair of the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, said the grants are helping drivers access higher ethanol blends. Benefits include improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and lower costs.
“These grants help the economy by giving drivers more economical options at the gas pump and increasing access to homegrown fuel,” Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said in a statement. “We’re also helping our environment when we increase the use of ethanol blends. Thanks to the Minnesota Legislature and Minnesota Corn, we can invest in these projects.”
Since 2008, MN Corn has invested over $30 million to promote and increase usage of higher ethanol blends. These investments have helped increase the availability of Unleaded 88 across the state.
Currently, Minnesota has over 400 fuel stations offering Unleaded 88, up from 26 in 2015 and 256 in 2017.
The increase in stations offering Unleaded 88 corresponds with surging sales. In 2021, Minnesota set a record for Unleaded 88 sales at over 87.1 million gallons. This year, the state is on pace to break that record.
Minnesota Corn thanks the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for their partnership on the biofuel infrastructure grant program and the state Legislature for funding the program. To find a fueling station offering ethanol blends near year you, visit betterfuel.org.
