Three Casey’s General Stores in Linn County and three fuel retailers in Johnson County were among 90 Iowa sites awarded state funding to upgrade their ethanol infrastructure.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved $1.23 million in cost-share grants during its quarterly meeting on June 4. The grants support new and expanded E15 – Unleaded 88 – biofuel infrastructure projects across 48 Iowa counties.
Two Cedar Rapids Casey’s stores received $4,189.41 and $5,533.93, while the Springville location was awarded $9,070.48. In Johnson County, a Coralville Casey’s was granted $6,035.67 and an Iowa City location received $4,615.75. Coralville’s Hy-Vee also received $5,299.46.
“Biofuels provide value for drivers, open new markets for farmers, support rural jobs, reduce emissions, and advance the goal of greater American energy dominance,” said Mr. Naig, in a release. “Expanding access to Unleaded 88 gives drivers more ways to save at the pump, and those savings really do add up over time.”
Iowa set a new record in 2024 for E15 sales, with 256.7 million gallons sold – up 44% from 2023 – saving drivers an estimated $38.5 million at the pump. The Iowa Department of Revenue reported that E15 was sold at an average discount of 15 cents per gallon compared to E10.
The RFIP grants also help fuel stations comply with Iowa’s E15 Access Standard, the first of its kind in the nation. The law, passed in 2022, requires most retailers to offer E15 by Jan. 1, 2026.
Since the RFIP’s inception in 2006, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has invested over $62 million in renewable fuels infrastructure, with more than $270 million matched by Iowa fuel retailers.
More information and a full list of awarded sites can be found at iowaagriculture.gov/IRFIP. Applications for future grant rounds are currently open.
