WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, announced today that it wrote 49% of all HBIIP grants for fuel retailers seeking infrastructure funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to install equipment that would allow them to sell E15–a fuel blend made with 15% bioethanol that can be used in 96% of cars on the road today.
“Navigating the world of federal funding opportunities can be complicated. Growth Energy makes it simple,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “The fact that we wrote half of all the HBIIP grants submitted this year proves that our market development team is a trusted resource and has an unmatched ability to connect fuel retailers of all sizes to HBIIP funding.”
“Our only goal is to increase the amount of biofuels in American fuel tanks, and retailers are crucial to achieving that,” Skor added. “We’re proud to support any fuel retailer looking to increase their margins while distinguishing themselves by offering E15 at their fuel pumps.”
“Our team has direct retail fuel experience and over 20 years of grant writing experience combined. We’ll help any retailer, at no cost, that wants to offer higher biofuel blends,” said Jake Comer, Growth Energy’s Vice President of Market Development. “Our retail experience means that, not only can we write their HBIIP grants, but we can help them with site plans, optimal petroleum configurations, and any marketing questions they have. We provide more value than just writing a grant – and our members fully fund these efforts because they know how important the retailer is.”
Supporting retailers seeking to join the 3,414 stations that already offer E15 has always been a key part of Growth Energy’s mission. Increasing access to this more affordable, lower-carbon fuel option offers real benefits to consumers, the environment, the rural economy, and fuel retailers’ revenue.
“Working with Growth Energy made the entire application process go smoothly for us,” said Lance Klatt, Executive Director of Minnoco. “E15 is a great product with strong economics and huge consumer appeal, and with that HBIIP funding we’ll be able to offer more of it to our customers. Growth Energy’s support was instrumental in our success.”
Learn more about how Growth Energy supports retailers looking to sell E15 at their locations at the organization’s retailer and supplier hub. If you’re a retailer curious to learn more about how Growth Energy can help write your HBIIP grants, contact our Market Development team at MarketDevelopment@growthenergy.org.