Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with 21 states through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to nearly double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply renewable fuels to American motorists.

With the matching commitments by state and private entities, the BIP is investing a total of $210 million to strengthen the rural economy.

“This is a big win for both corn farmers and consumers,” NCGA President Chip Bowling, a Maryland farmer, said. “Fuel choice is important to consumers, and investing in our biofuel infrastructure will help ensure they have access to a stable supply of ethanol that is American-grown, renewable and affordable.

“While we celebrate this program, we will continue to push the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to uphold the statutory volumes of ethanol required under the Renewable Fuel Standard. With more pumps coming online, it’s important to have the fuel they provide ready to go.”

According to the USDA announcement, the states participating in the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The final awards being announced today are estimated to expand infrastructure by nearly 5,000 pumps at more than 1,400 fueling stations.