DOE to fund higher ethanol blend projects

Ethanol Producer Magazine August 2009
By Kris Bevill
Report posted Aug. 6, 2009, at 12:18 p.m. CST

The U.S. DOE announced Aug. 4 that it will be providing up to $5.5 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds to multiple projects aimed at increasing the use of ethanol blends up to E85. Areas of focus include infrastructure modifications at retail fueling locations and increasing public awareness on the benefits of ethanol use.

The DOE anticipates awarding between 15 and 30 recipients grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 — $3.5 million total — for projects focused on infrastructure expansion. Acceptable projects include: upgrades to existing dispensers; addition of new dispensing infrastructure; and replacement, modifications or addition of ethanol storage tanks. The agency will give higher consideration to projects that include electronic card readers with updated product codes to track the amount of ethanol dispensed. Projects must result in the addition of a minimum of five pumps capable of dispensing E85. The DOE strongly encourages applications which encompass fueling corridors that are no more than 100 miles apart and projects which concentrate higher ethanol blend availability to a targeted geographic area.

Read the full story