[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Minnesota Department of Agriculture awarded $8 million grant to increase the number of flex fuel pumps in the state[/title][fusion_text]Wednesday, October 28th 2015
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has been awarded an $8 million grant to increase the number of flex fuel pumps in the state. Minnesota is one of 21 states to receive grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). The MDA has matched this federal support with funding and in-kind contributions from a coalition including the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, the American Lung Association in Minnesota, the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, Minnesota’s ethanol plants and participating service stations. “These grants are good news for our state. This funding will help Minnesota install additional flex fuel pumps at gas stations statewide,” said Lt. Governor Tina Smith. “This is a win-win: providing consumers choice at the pump, while supporting Minnesota farmers.” In Minnesota, the USDA grant and matching contributions are projected to assist with the installation or retrofit of 620 pumps and related equipment. Grant funds are estimated to support up to 165 retailers in the state. “We at the Department of Agriculture are humbled by the confidence the USDA has placed in us with this grant award. We look forward to managing this fund and the match contribution to achieve the best investments to expand ethanol fuel choice in the state,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. Nationally, the USDA grant is expected to more than double the number of stations that offer intermediate ethanol blends such as E15 as a gasoline for vehicles 2001 and newer (gasoline blendstock with 15 percent ethanol), and higher blends for flex-fuel vehicles, such as E30 and E85. Before the USDA grant funding, coalition investments in the past two years have resulted in more than 40 Minnesota stations installing about 120 flex pumps that dispense a combination of high ethanol blends for flex fuel vehicles and E15 gasoline, as well as E10 regular gasoline. Minnesota is a national leader in ethanol fuels development, with nearly 300 E85 retailers throughout the state.
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