Senators urge USDA to allocate CCC funds to HBIIP

September 27, 2024

BY Erin Voegele

Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., on Sept. 25 sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack advocating for additional Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program funding. 

With the letter, the senators urge the USDA to extend HBIIP with Commodity Credit Corp. funds to ensure its continued operation beyond Sept. 30, 2024. 

HBIIP, launched in 2020, helps expand consumer access to higher biofuel blends, including E15, E85 and B20. Through the program’s cost-share approach, HBIIP has helped fuel retailers invest more than $77.8 million in biofuel-related infrastructure projects, leading to an estimated 1.2-billion-gallon increase in annual biofuel sales, according to the senators. 

“With the increased demand for the cost-share program, an additional $500 million was directly appropriated to HBIIP by Congress in 2022 to be distributed over five quarters,” the senators wrote. “As the final quarter ends on September 30, 2024, we strongly encourage the USDA to allocate CCC funds to sustain this essential program.

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“Historically, the Secretary has allotted over $300 million in CCC funds to support HBIIP. Given this precedent, we urge the USDA to do so again,” they continued. “By continuing to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, we can drive further adoption of higher blends of biofuels, which boosts skilled job opportunities in rural communities, protects the environment by reducing emissions, and adds value to the crops grown by producers across the country.”

A full copy of the letter is available on Ernst’s website.

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