USDA to invest $10.4M in California’s clean fuel infrastructure

In California, USDA Rural Development California announced USDA is investing $10.4 million to upgrade clean fuel infrastructure and help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments.

Through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), $8.7 million in loan and grant will go to supporting 24 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects throughout California. For example, Couco Creek Dairy Biogas LLC is receiving a $1 million grant to build an anaerobic covered lagoon digester and make carbon-negative vehicle fuels in California.

Through USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Investment Program (HBIIP), $1.7 million in grants will create the necessary infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels for seven recipient organizations in California. For example, Veer Management Company Inc. expects to increase the availability of ethanol by more than 1.8 million gallons per year by installing ethanol blend fuel dispensers and a storage tank across eight fueling stations in California.