Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024
OPPORTUNITY:
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of funding under section 22003 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, in competitive grants to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).
DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of the HBIIP is to significantly increase the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. HBIIP is intended to encourage a more comprehensive approach to marketing higher blends by sharing the costs related to building and/or retrofitting biofuel-related infrastructure.
COST SHARING:
Cost-share grants of up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs, but not more than $5 million, will be made available to assist transportation fueling facilities and fuel distribution facilities with converting to higher blend friendly status for ethanol (i.e., greater than 10 percent ethanol) and biodiesel (greater than 5 percent biodiesel) by sharing the costs related to the installation, and/or retrofitting, and/ or otherwise upgrading of fuel dispenser or pumps and related equipment, storage tank system components, and other required infrastructure. Eligible facilities must be in the United States and its territories.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
Owners of transportation fueling facilities and owners of fuel distribution facilities.
FUNDING AVAILABLE AND APPLICATION WINDOW:
FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $450 million. There will $90 million each calendar quarter commencing July 1, 2023 for five quarters.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: The application windows for enrollment in the HBIIP will take place quarterly for five quarters, starting July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, with the option for a sixth application window if funding has not been exhausted. The application window will close at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on the last day of each quarter.
