WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced plans to “aggressively pursue” investments in American-grown renewable energy.

As part of that commitment, USDA is investing up to $100 million in clean energy infrastructure that will make more options available to American consumers. Through the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership, USDA funds, administered through competitive grants and matched by states and private contributions, will test ways to distribute higher blends of renewable fuel. States that offer a greater than one-to-one ratio in funding will receive higher consideration for grant funds.

This new investment seeks to double the number of fuel pumps capable of supplying higher blends of renewable fuel to consumers, such as E15 and E85. USDA says this will expand markets for farmers and help them diversify their rural energy portfolios, support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and give consumers more options at the pump.

USDA says that the United States exported more than $2 billion dollars of ethanol last year, making it the world's largest exporter of ethanol. “Other countries are investing in clean energy technologies because they realize the tremendous economic potential of these energy sources, and we must do the same to remain competitive,” notes the agency.

Increased domestic production and use of renewable energy, paired with growing renewable energy exports, says USDA, has the potential to support hundreds of thousands of jobs in rural communities.