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Last updated on Thursday, April 28, 2016
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) today announced over $789,000 through the Hoosier Homegrown Fuels (HHF) Blender Pump Program will be provided to Family Express. This is the second round of grant announcements for the program.
The goal of this program is to expand the availability of higher ethanol blends in areas of Indiana where blends of E15 - E85 are limited or not available. E15 and E85 are abbreviations indicating the percentage of ethanol blended in the fuel. Family Express is planning to deploy 45 blender pumps capable of dispensing these higher ethanol blends in Jasper, Lake, Laporte, Porter, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe and White counties.
"Recipients of the Hoosier Homegrown Fuels grant program, including Family Express, are looking to the future," said OED Director Tristan Vance. "They realize that alternative fuels can be included as part of the energy portfolio for Indiana consumers, and we are excited to partner with them through this grant opportunity."
"Family Express, 2015 Chain of the Year, has been a leader in offering ethanol-blended fuel options to their customers for years and this announcement demonstrates their commitment to providing Indiana consumers with choices at the pump," said David Gottbrath, Indiana Corn Marketing Council president and farmer from Washington County."
The grant program is also in partnership with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Greater Indiana Clean Cities and South Shore Clean Cities who assisted in scoring the applications and provided outreach support. ICMC saw an opportunity through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership to leverage state corn checkoff funds and partner with other organizations to expand ethanol's availability to the roughly 450,000 Hoosiers throughout the state who drive Flex Fuel Vehicles. ICMC has been working with fuel retailers to help increase the number of flex fuel pumps across the state for five years, including offering grants for installation.
About the Indiana Office of Energy Development
The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) was established to shepherd the state's energy plan. OED focuses on the development and implementation of comprehensive planning for the state that utilizes all of Indiana's energy resources and supports a strong, dynamic and growing economy. OED coordinates state energy policy with executive branch agencies, houses energy-related programs and works to support a strong, comprehensive, coordinated energy plan for Indiana. The office also administers grant programs funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. These grants promote the use of alternative power and fuels, energy efficiency and public education on energy issues in Indiana.
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