WASHINGTON, DC — In response to an announcement by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it will be launching a program worth 100 million dollars to help fund infrastructure projects to increase the availability of higher ethanol blends, furthering consumer choice, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement by the USDA is a tremendous win for American consumers. The USDA is helping advance consumer choice and market access for higher blends of cleaner burning, American made, renewable fuels. I would like to thank the administration and in particular, Secretary Vilsack, for his unwavering leadership and dedication to promoting America’s renewable fuels and helping bring a choice and savings to consumers when they fill up at the pump.
“This program will provide grants to states who then can, in turn, form public or private partnerships to help defer the costs of infrastructure enhancements for higher blends, such as adding blender pumps and retrofitting existing fueling facilities.
“By helping build out the necessary infrastructure, consumers will have increased choice at the pump. Higher blends, such as E15, give consumers a choice to use homegrown American biofuels that are less expensive, reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and bolster local communities and our rural economy by creating jobs that will never be outsourced.”
# # #
About Growth Energy
Growth Energy represents the producers and supporters of ethanol who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being and create a healthier environment for all Americans now. For more information, please visit us at www.GrowthEnergy.org, follow us on Twitter @GrowthEnergy or connect with us on Facebook.