Grand Rapids, MI – A Michigan-based company has secured nearly $4.2 million in federal funding aimed at boosting the sale and utilization of biodiesel and ethanol across three counties.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced a total of $239 million in grants nationwide this week to support the installation and upgrade of biofuels infrastructure, including fuel pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks. Fleet Fueling of Michigan LLC, also known as United Fuels, is among the recipients, which span 18 states.
As an authorized franchisee of Pacific Pride, Fleet Fueling operates up to ten fueling stations in Michigan. State records identify Brooke A. Clark of Grand Rapids as the company’s resident agent.
The federal grant will enable Fleet Fueling to enhance storage and dispensing capabilities at seven of its stations located in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. This expansion is projected to increase the sale of ethanol and biodiesel in Michigan by over 2.5 million gallons annually.
A senior federal official emphasized that the objective of these awards is to boost the domestic supply of biofuels, thereby reducing costs, enhancing energy independence, creating new revenue opportunities for farmers, and generating well-paying jobs.
“We are collaborating with rural agricultural producers to promote clean energy and foster an economy that supports working families and small businesses while addressing climate change,” stated Xochitl Torres Small, U.S. Deputy Agriculture Secretary.
Other states in the Great Lakes region, such as Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, also received funding during this grant cycle, which covers a total of 12 states nationwide.
These grants are financed through federal infrastructure and commodity credit programs. Biofuels are intended to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels in transportation, addressing the concerns of global warming driven by elevated levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.
