Four area convenience stores were recently awarded state grants to help pay for installing the equipment needed to dispense E15 ethanol.

Those stores are:

• Kwik Star, 201 N. 15th St., Fort Dodge — $50,000

• Kwik Star, Overpass Drive, Webster City — $50,000

• Nu Way K & H Cooperative, Iowa Highway 17, Goldfield — $63,900

• Stratford Country Store, Iowa Highway 175, Stratford — $50,000

E15 is a higher blend of ethanol that requires some different equipment than what is used for typical E10 ethanol.

The grants were awarded by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Board.

“Iowans are fueling their vehicles with lower cost E15 at record levels, Iowa plants are producing record volumes of ethanol, and Iowa is setting records for ethanol infrastructure investment,” state Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.

“The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program is truly driving biofuels momentum, and that is important because this industry supports rural jobs, creates markets for farmers and helps us secure our energy future,” he added. “With significant state and federal cost-share assistance available, there has never been a better time for fuel retailers to help Iowa drivers save money at the pump by upgrading their fueling infrastructure.”

Since the fiscal year began on July 1, 2023, the state has awarded about $5.5 million worth of grants for 119 biofuels infrastructure projects.