The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) now provides grants and loan guarantees for rural small businesses for the installation of retail flexible fuel pumps. These grants are for pumps and related equipment and the retrofitting to dispense E85 and other lower blends of Virginia ethanol for vehicles. With these new pumps, station owners can service the rapidly growing fleet of FFVs, help America increase biofuel use, and reduce our dependence on imported oil.
Please review or print the below PDF and take it to any refueling stations that may be rural small businesses interested in selling E85. To be eligible for the project, the station must be owned by a small business in a rural area and have their application in by June 15.
USDA Blenderpump REAP Program PDF
For additional information, stations may be interested in the business case for installing E85 at stations at the Alt Fuels Data Center website and their associated PDF publication.
For an existing E85 station map in the region, please view our station location guide. E85 sells below the cost of gasoline in Virginia and retailers are able to make a profit from selling the cleaner domestic fuel.
If you are interested in this program, please immediately contact Laurette Tucker at 434-392-4906 extension 125 or email laurette.tucker@va.usda.gov