RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 19, 2024 – Three fueling stations in the commonwealth are included in a new $2.7 million grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to help expand the sale and use of renewable fuels.
Pennsylvania is the lead state for the venture, which is projected to increase the amount of biofuel sold by 15,952,331 gallons per year. Sheetz Inc. will use the funds to install dispensers for three fuel blends (28 E15, 18 E85 and 41 B20 biodiesel), 10 ethanol storage tanks, and 1 biodiesel storage tank at 11 stations in the host state and Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
The Virginia sites are Farmville, Winchester and Richmond. Other stations impacted by the grant are located in Sinking Spring, Pa.; Thurmont, Md.; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Latrobe, Pa.; Saint Mary’s, Md.; Sarver, Pa.; Milton, W.Va.; and Pittsburgh, Pa.
“Expanding the availability of homegrown biofuels can create new market opportunities and income streams for producers while also lowering costs for Virginia families,” said Perry Hickman, USDA Rural Development Virginia State Director. “This clean energy investment highlights how the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on its promises to fight climate change and spur economic growth in rural communities through increased competition.”
USDA awarded $90.3 million in HBIIP grants to 89 projects in 26 states to help business owners install and upgrade infrastructure like fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. The funding will also benefit people in in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
HBIIP provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners - including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities - to help expand access to domestic biofuels as a clean and affordable energy source. A complete list of HBIIP and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) projects announced on Aug. 16, 2024, can be found online.
USDA will continue to accept HBIIP applications until Sept. 30, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET. For more information, go to the HBIIP webpage.
USDA 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.
Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
