Two ethanol processors with Iowa operations are among 17 projects selected for $118 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate the production of lower carbon biofuels. Projects selected will contribute to meeting DOE’s goal of achieving at least a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.

“Biofuels are a versatile tool because they have the immediate potential to power our ships, trains, airlines and heavy-duty vehicles with a significantly reduced carbon footprint,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

Green Plains, which operates Iowa ethanol plants in Superior and Shenandoah, received $500,000 for a project to implement emissions reduction technologies at its biorefineries. The project will validate three different technology platforms to reduce GHG emissions including renewable gas production from waste residues, on-site wind and solar generation to power its facilities, and reduction of farm-level emissions utilizing ad­vanced crop management practices and reduced fertilizer use.

Lincolnway Energy of Nevada received $453,000 for a project to evaluate the feasibility of deploying anaerobic digestion technology to produce biogas from stillage and/or corn stover. The biogas would be used to power the 90 million gallon per year dry mill corn ethanol plant, lowering the carbon intensity score of ethanol production.

Nationwide, the selected projects are located in nine states and Washington, D.C., and focus on technologies including anaerobic digestion, sustainable aviation fuels and catalytic biorefining, among others.