Toward the end of October, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a partnership to increase fueling pumps for biofuels in 21 states — an investment that will nearly double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply renewable fuels to motorists. The Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) looks to double the number of fuel pumps capable of supplying higher blends of ethanol nationwide, such as E15 and E85.
With federal funding of $100 million and combining that with $120 million in commitments from private industry and state resources, Vilsack says the BIP is a $220 million investment that’s going to result in new renewable fuel systems available across the United States. Increased domestic production and use of renewable energy, paired with growing renewable energy exports, has the potential to support hundreds of thousands of jobs in rural communities. “Having this biofuel choice creates competition, and competition usually results in consumers paying less for something,” Vilsack said during the announcement in Kissimmee, Fla. “At the same time, there are jobs, more stable farm prices and less reliance on foreign oil and cleaner air.”
