DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it is spending $100 million to help install nearly 5,000 additional ethanol fuel pumps in 21 states.
The agency said Wednesday that matching grants bring the total public-private investment to $210 million to increase the availability of the corn-based fuel.
The USDA says a typical gas pump delivers 10 percent ethanol, but the grants will help install pumps that offer higher blends of ethanol for more recently made vehicles.
The largest grants are going to Texas, $17 million for 763 pumps, and Florida, nearly $16 million for 892 pumps.
Iowa, the nation's top corn-producing state, will see $5 million for 187 pumps, and Nebraska will get $2.3 million for 80 new pumps.