Biofuel Infrastructure

The use of biodiesel and ethanol fuels not only results in significant reductions of petroleum and greenhouse gas emissions, but also helps support locally grown agricultural products and farmers throughout the midwest. According to the Argonne National Laboratory, corn-based ethanol production reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 52% compared to gasoline, enabling adopters of the fuel to feel confident about their contribution to regional emissions reductions and locally sourced products and job creation.

Clean Energy Mobility is proud to offer a suite of incentives aimed at increasing the availability of biofuels throughout Michigan that can help cover the costs of ethanol or biodiesel infrastructure (e.g., new tanks, pumps, etc.). In addition to providing resources for regional biofuel infrastructure, Clean Energy Mobility is working to promote bio-based products through a pilot program that provides financing for jurisdictions to test and sample bio-based materials as a substitute to conventionally used products.

Biofuel initiatives include:

I-75 Green Corridor: Clean Energy Coalition is working to establish a green corridor along I-75, from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to the Florida Keys, through the installation of ethanol and biodiesel pumps at intervals of 200 miles or less. Clean Energy Mobility, as part of a wider project through the University of Tennessee, provides matching grants of up to $30,000 per facility for the installation of, or conversion to, biodiesel (i.e., B20 or higher) pumps along I-75 in Michigan. In addition, the grant can be used for installation of, or conversion to, E85 pumps.

2012 Michigan Ethanol Infrastructure & Marketing Incentive: Financial assistance is currently available through a Clean Energy Mobility project that works with public service stations to install or convert existing infrastructure to ethanol blender pumps. These pumps mix ethanol and regular unleaded gasoline on-site, providing a greater variety of ethanol products. Grants of up to $10,000 per pump are available for the installation of blender pump infrastructure. Additionally, awards of up to $5,000 or 50% of the total cost (whichever is smaller) are available for marketing and advertising of ethanol fuel availability. Download the 2012 Michigan Ethanol Infrastructure & Marketing Incentive program details here or apply for funding now.

Michigan E85 Infrastructure: Clean Energy Mobility is currently working to expand the availability of E85 infrastructure throughout Michigan by providing grants to help pay for the incremental cost of pump installation. When the project is complete, five E85 stations and 10 pumps will be installed throughout the state. Four sites are currently operating: Sebewaing, Elkton, Whitmore Lake, and Howell. One more site is planned for 2011. This U.S. Department of Energy Recovery Act Project’s petroleum displacement is estimated at more than 800,000 gallons annually.

Bio-Based Products Program: Clean Energy Mobility, in partnership with the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee (MSPC), is working to promote bio-based products through a pilot procurement program with municipal project partners in southeast Michigan. The project will work to identify viable bio-based substitutes for conventional materials used by municipal partners in building and vehicle fleet applications. After the testing phase of the project, Clean Energy Coalition will research procurement policies and establish best practices to help develop purchase ordinances and policies conducive to continued adoption of bio-based products. Following pilot completion, the team will evaluate and summarize feedback results, while promoting the identified products through the company website and at regional outreach events.

Project Partners

• Corn Marketing Program of Michigan
• University of Tennessee: Governor Supports Biofuel Initiative
• U.S. Department of Energy Biomass Program
• Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee (MSPC)

 

Successes

• E85 Infrastructure: Eight E85/blender pumps operational at Ignash Petroleum in Elkton, Michigan
• E85 Infrastructure: Two E85 blender pumps operational at Cooperative Elevator Company in Sebewaing, Michigan
• E85 Infrastructure: Two E85 sites installed in Howell and Whitmore Lake, Michigan with Corrigan Oil Company
• E85 Infrastructure: One E85 station location installed in East Lansing, Michigan with J&H Oil Company
• E85 Infrastructure: 192.445 gallons of E85; 10,786 gallons of E50; and 19,159 gallons of E30 dispensed and 111,863 gallons of petroleum displaced in 2011
• I-75 Green Corridor: One Detroit site planned for E85 and one site planned for Royal Oak B20 station
• 2011 Michigan Blender Pump Incentive: Blender pump installed in Mt. Clemens in 2011; blender pump planned for Lansing in 2012

Program Contact Information

Joel Baetens
Project Manager
734.585.5720 x11
joel@cec-mi.org