– U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department has provided more than $31.5 million to help lower costs and support biofuel producers who faced unexpected market losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California. The funds are being made available through the Biofuel Producer Program, which was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to rebuilding the rural economy after the impacts of the pandemic,” Vilsack said. “That’s why USDA is targeting resources and investments to improve the strength and resiliency of America’s sustainable fuel markets. The investments we’re announcing today will pave the way to economic recovery for America’s biofuel producers, stimulate a critical market for U.S. farmers and ranchers, and support our nation’s transition to a clean-energy economy.”
USDA is making payments to 8 biofuel production facilities to support the maintenance and viability of a significant market for agricultural producers of products such as corn, soybean or biomass that supply biofuel production. These biofuel producers experienced unexpected market losses as a result of COVID–19.
These investments include:
- In Riverside County, approximately $100 thousand was awarded to Imperial Western Products. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. Imperial Western Products is receiving financial assistance for one facility that produces biomass-based diesel.
- In San Bernardino County, approximately $2.9 million will be invested into TCR Holdings LLC. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. TCR Holdings LLC is receiving financial assistance for three facilities that produced ethanol and biomass-based diesel. The facilities are located in Tennessee, California, and Kentucky.
- In San Diego County, more than $828 thousand is being invested into New Leaf Biofuel LLC. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. Imperial Western Products is receiving financial assistance for one facility that produce biomass-based diesel.
- In Stanislaus County, more than $14 million will be invested into Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes Incorporated. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. Aemetis Advanced Fuels Keyes Incorporated is receiving financial assistance for one facility that produced ethanol.
- In Tulare County, almost $4 million was awarded to GFP Ethanol LLC dba Calgren Renew Fuels. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. GFP Ethanol LLC is receiving financial assistance for two facilities that produces ethanol and biomass-based diesel.
- In Kern County, more than $90 thousand is allotted to Crimson Renewable Energy Holdings LLC. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. Crimson Renewable Energy Holdings LLC is receiving financial assistance for two facilities that produces biomass-based diesel. The facilities are located in California and Oregon.
- In San Bernardino County, more than $160 thousand is allocated to Alltech Incorporated. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. Alltech is receiving financial assistance for five facilities that produce ethanol. The facilities are located in California, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina.
- In Los Angeles County, almost $9.5 million will be invested into World Energy. This Rural Development investment will be used to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. World Energy is receiving financial assistance for five facilities that produce biomass-based diesel. The facilities are located in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.