South Dakota’s Ethanol Infrastructure Grant Program Accepting Applications
South Dakota’s Ethanol Infrastructure Incentive Program Accepting Applications
Pierre, SD –The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced that it is now accepting applications for $960,000 in funding for the Ethanol Infrastructure Grant Program for the 2013 fiscal year.
The program was created last year to help station owners defray the cost of installation of ethanol blender pumps, which offer consumers a greater variety of fuel choices, including non-ethanol fuels and higher blends like E15, E30, and E85.
The first $760,000 of qualifying project applications will be awarded grants. The additional $200,000 portion of the program funds will be awarded on a competitive basis following the completion of the first phase of funding.
“The fact that the first year’s grants were snatched up so quickly proves that South Dakota retailers see the tremendous benefit in installing blender pumps,” said Dana Siefkes Lewis, president, South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association. “We’re expecting that same enthusiasm this year as even more stations opt for offering consumers a home-grown, renewable choice at the pumps that is good for our state and for our nation.”
“Since the start of the program earlier this year, we are already helping to fund the installation of 55 ethanol blender pumps in the state at 26 different retail locations,” said Hunter Roberts, energy policy director, Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “We are happy that we can continue to have a program in place that helps support local industries and local jobs as well.”
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) recognizes the consumer benefits offered by this program and hopes to help the state inform marketers of information and opportunities available for blender pumps and mid-level blends.
“Ultimately, retailers and consumers both benefit from this programs,” said Ron Lamberty, vice president, American Coalition for Ethanol. “Retailers can afford to install pumps that offer choices like E15, E30, and E85 to consumers, drivers can choose the blends that work best for them, and since ethanol costs less than gasoline, history tells us they’ll choose more ethanol.”
Funding for the grant program was made possible by a partnership between the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association and the State of South Dakota. For more information or to apply visit http://sdreadytowork.com/blenderpumps.aspx.
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