WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Program awarded six grants totaling $17,222,533 for biofuel producers and facilities in North Dakota.

“The bipartisan CARES Act continues to aid all industries from energy and agriculture to health care. Today’s funding goes to biofuel producers and facilities across North Dakota as the American economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Kevin Cramer. 

These grants are intended to help biofuel producers recover from unexpected market losses suffered as a result of COVID-19. North Dakota’s recipients include:

  • $6,777,977 to Hankinson Renewable Energy in Hankinson
  • $4,562,256 to Midwest Energy Group in Underwood
  • $4,259,723 to Red Trail Energy in Richardton
  • $1,334,512 to Tharaldson Ethanol Plant I in Casselton
  • $288,063 to Red River Biorefinery in Grand Forks

The funds are from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, legislation crafted in the Senate to aid all industries at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which Senator Cramer helped pass in March 2020.