The webinar will serve as an introduction to the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). USDA staff will provide an overview of the program (including recent updates), along with detailed information on how to enroll for access to the HBIIP application system, important dates, and will reserve time to answer questions. Interested parties can register to attend the webinar scheduled for July 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET via USDA Rural Development’s Zoom account at this link.
Background on HBIIP
HBIIP seeks to increase the availability of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel derived from U.S. agricultural products by sharing the costs to build and retrofit biofuel-related infrastructure.
Grants cover up to 75% or $5 million of total project costs to help facilities convert to higher-blend fuels. The fuels must be greater than 10% for ethanol and greater than 5% for biodiesel.
The $450 million in new funds will be available quarterly starting July 1. Each quarter, $90 million will be available to support a variety of fueling operations:
- Approximately $67.5 million will be made available to transportation fueling facilities, including fueling stations; convenience stores; larger retail stores that also sell fuel; and transportation, freight, rail and marine fleet facilities.
- Approximately $18 million will be available to fuel distribution facilities, including terminal operations, depots and midstream operations.
- Up to $4.5 million will be made available to home heating oil distribution facilities.
There will be five application windows for HBIIP between July 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024. A sixth application window will be opened if funding has not been exhausted.
For more information, visit the HBIIP webpage, the Federal Register or Grants.gov.