USDA Invests $14,000,418 in Domestic Biofuels and Clean Energy Projects to Lower Costs and Increase Energy Security in Wisconsin

STEVENS POINT, Wis., Jan. 13, 2025 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa today announced that the USDA is investing $14,000,418 more in grant funding in Wisconsin to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels.

The investments announced today are being made in 42 projects in 27 counties in Wisconsin through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) ($9,583,750 to three projects) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) ($4,416,668 to 39 projects).

“The dozens of awards I’m announcing today will help lower energy costs and provide a historic opportunity for farmers and rural businesses to invest in clean energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements,” said Lassa. “Many of these investments are made possible with help from President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act and will create more energy independence, save businesses money on their bottom-line, and strengthen economic development in rural communities.”

Some examples of projects in today’s announcement include:

• In Kewaunee County, Rosewood Dairy, Inc. in Algoma will use a $500,000 REAP grant to install more energy-efficient lighting. This project is expected to save the business more than $18,000 per year. It will save nearly 238,000 kilowatt hours per year, which represents 60 percent of Rosewood Dairy’s energy use.
• In Grant County, GRO Alliance, a rural small business in Cuba City, will use a $438,500 REAP grant to install a roof-mounted solar electric array. This project is expected to save $45,118 per year. It will replace 609,696 kilowatt hours (66 percent of the company’s energy use) per year, which is enough energy to power 60 homes.
• JT Petroleum LLC, which owns and operates fueling stations, will use a $5,000,000 HBIIP grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project will install 79 E15 dispensers, 23 B20 dispensers, 19 ethanol storage tanks, and 15 biodiesel storage tanks at 19 fueling stations, located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Station locations impacted by this grant are: Bloomington, Brussels, Grand Chute, Grand Rapids, Marion, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, Mitchell, Mt. Vernon, Oshkosh, Pewaukee, Racine (2), Radcliff, Salem, Sheboygan, Sturgeon Bay, Two Rivers, and Waukesha. This project will increase the amount of biofuel sold by 6,160,734 gallons per year.

A full list of projects receiving funding announced today is available online, here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/reap-and-hbiip-grant-awards-1-13-2025-0.pdf.  Projects are listed alphabetically by county.

Since 2021, USDA has invested nearly $48 million in 259 projects in Wisconsin through REAP and more than $34.5 million through HBIIP in projects with impact in Wisconsin.

National Investments

Clean Energy Projects

The funding announced today is part of the national announcement that USDA is providing nearly $180 million through the REAP and the HBIIP with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis.

As part of today’s announcement, USDA is awarding $120 million in REAP grants for 516 projects in 39 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This program helps farmers and small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and expand their use of wind, solar and other forms of clean energy.

The investments through REAP will benefit farmers, small business owners, entrepreneurs and community organizations in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,  Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40 percent of the overall benefits from certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Domestic Biofuel Projects

Business owners are also receiving nearly $60 million through HBIIP to expand access to domestic biofuels in 24 states and strengthen America’s energy independence. This program provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners—including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities—to expand access to domestic biofuels, a clean and affordable source of energy.

These investments help business owners install and upgrade infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers and storage tanks.

This latest round of investments through HBIIP will benefit people living in Wisconsin, and also Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, support jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.