The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program board recently approved 114 project applications from Iowa gas stations, totaling more than $2.88 million, for new and expanded ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure projects.

This sets a new quarterly record for the number of investments in biofuels projects, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The grants were awarded by the RFIP board during its quarterly meeting at the end of March.

New ethanol fueling infrastructure will be funded with the help of 112 RFIP cost-share grants for E15 projects totaling $2.73 million at gas stations in 44 Iowa counties. The board also approved two biodiesel cost-share grants – one for retail and one for terminal storage – totaling $150,000.

A complete list of state RFIP-funded ethanol and biodiesel projects, sorted by county, can be found here.

These state funded grants are in addition to the federal Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program grants recently announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during her visit to Iowa last week. That federal funding will incentivize 543 projects, totaling $537 million in 29 states, including Iowa.

The grant announcements come at a time when biofuel usage continues to build momentum in Iowa, with E15 sales hitting another record in 2024. The Iowa Department of Revenue announced on April 3 that sales of E15 grew by 44% over 2023 sales, which had been the previous yearly record. Last year also represented a record year for the sale of B20 and higher blends of biodiesel.

These investments are designed to help more gas stations come into compliance with the E15 Access Standard, which goes into full effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Iowa is the first state to enact an E15 Access Standard, which requires most fuel retailers and gas stations to offer E15. The law was passed by the Iowa Legislature and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022.

Since the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program began in 2006, the department has invested approximately $56.6 million toward expanding renewable fuels infrastructure in Iowa. This has been matched with more than $260 million by Iowa gas stations and fuel retailers.

Gas station applications for funding can be found at iowaagriculture.gov/IRFIP, and will be considered by the RFIP board at an upcoming quarterly meeting.