On May 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is making final payments under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and will not be making further obligations absent future congressional appropriation. The program's remaining funds have been exhausted.

HBIIP provided cost-share grants to fuel retailers and fuel distribution facilities to install, retrofit, or upgrade infrastructure used to dispense higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), obligations made through the program since January 2025 have increased the availability of approximately 1.4 million gallons of higher blend fuels. The agency framed the program's contributions as expanding markets for farmers and biofuel producers while helping moderate prices at the pump for consumers.

USDA pointed prior applicants toward the Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program, administered through USDA Rural Development, as an alternative pathway for financing infrastructure projects. Unlike HBIIP's direct cost-share grants, the B&I program guarantees loans originated by private lenders, and applicants would need to work with a participating lender to pursue funding.

Please direct questions regarding this notice to HBIIP@usda.gov.