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USDA has issued a new Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) rule, but it has not announced when the next grant application window will open. The rule takes effect October 16, 2026, and changes the grant process: projects must be complete and operating before applying. Separately, USDA says funding for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), which supported ethanol and other higher-blend fuel infrastructure, is exhausted.
What funding is available now?
USDA announced the REAP final rule on October 2, 2026. The rule was published in the Federal Register on October 1, takes effect October 16, and accepts comments through November 2, 2026. Those dates concern the rule; they are not grant application dates. USDA says annual program notices will set the grant window’s opening and closing dates, so there is no announced REAP grant window to apply to yet. See the USDA announcement and the Federal Register final rule.
REAP guaranteed loans are a separate track
USDA said guaranteed loans would continue to be awarded during the earlier REAP grant pause. On October 8, 2026, USDA’s OneRD dashboard listed $119,189,272 in FY 2026 funding, $11,500,000 obligated, $107,689,272 remaining, and $21,000,000 in pending loan amounts. This is a dated dashboard snapshot, not a promise that the listed balance will still be available when you apply. Check the OneRD Guarantee availability page for current information. In March, USDA said applicants who did not have a fully executed Financial Assistance Agreement would have an opportunity to reapply under a new funding opportunity; the applicable notice will provide details. The March 31 REAP status announcement describes the earlier pause.
HBIIP funding for ethanol infrastructure is exhausted
HBIIP is separate from REAP. On May 8, 2026, USDA said it was making final HBIIP payments, that program funds were exhausted, and that it would make no further obligations without a future appropriation. USDA suggested that interested former applicants consider the Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program and work with a lender; that is a possible financing route, not a guaranteed replacement award. USDA reported that HBIIP obligations made since January 2025 increased higher-blend fuel availability by approximately 1.4 million gallons. That is USDA’s program figure, not an independently evaluated impact estimate. Details are in the HBIIP conclusion notice.
#1 Best Overall
- Test your fuel for proper ethanol levels to ensure it does not damage your engine. Test kit also tests for e85.
- Simple test to discover the percentage of ethanol alcohol in gasoline. With readings of e10, e15, e20, e25, e80, e85 and e90
- High levels of ethanol could damage your fuel system and lower your fuel mileage.
- Ethanol can damage motors not equipped or designed to use it, test your gasoline first.
- Easy to read label and instructions that is laminated to prevent fading or the ink rubbing off. Testing bottle can be reused over and over.
How the new REAP grant rules change applications
Projects must be operating before you apply
Under the final rule, a project must be fully built and operational before the applicant submits a grant application. This reverses the practical order for applicants accustomed to seeking grant support before installation: the new grant process requires a completed project first. The rule does not establish that an applicant will be reimbursed for a completed project; awards remain competitive and subject to available funds and the terms of the annual notice.
Applications must document actual performance
Applicants must provide actual energy-production or energy-savings data for the 12 months before applying, as well as 12 months of pre-installation data. USDA says awards will be based on documented output or savings, costs, and system performance. Plan for the required measurement history before deciding whether this grant structure fits your project; the rule’s timing means that a newly installed system will need to operate long enough to produce the required post-installation record.
Rank #2
- 【Protect Your Engine】This ethanol tester E85 can get the ethanol level in gasoline and E85 pump gas in just 5 minutes, testing the fuel's ethanol content at peak levels to make sure it won't damage your engine.【Please note】The lid is designed with a self release safety point. Simply twist the lid until you feel slight resistance, then stop. This ensures a secure fit without loosening
- 【Reduce Spills】The wide mouth style of gasoline fuel test bottle is designed to reduce spills and prevent leaks by making it easy to pour gasoline and water into the bottle for testing without the use of a funnel, preventing gasoline from getting on your hands
- 【Test Procedure】Only three simple tests are required to find the percentage of ethanol in gasoline/E85 pump gas; First add water to the blue water line, then pour gasoline to the red gasoline line, then tighten the cap, shake the ethanol tester E85 for 5 seconds, and let it rest on a flat surface for 5 minutes; The gasoline and water will separate to provide a clear result
- 【Reusable and Durable】The E85 Fuel Test Kit is made of high density material, which is durable and corrosion resistant, allowing you to measure ethanol or E85 in gasoline hundreds of times
- 【Easy To Read Percentages】Fade and wipe proof instructions are screen printed for long lasting durability and legibility, and the transparent bottle helps to visualize the testing process
Ownership, siting, technology, and project-scope limits apply
- Solar and wind systems may not be installed on cropland.
- Solar photovoltaic systems and wind turbines may not contain any component made in a country designated as a foreign adversary under the regulation referenced by the rule.
- The eligible applicant is limited to the highest-level owner.
- Multilocation projects and specified technology uses are ineligible. The annual notice and final rule are necessary to determine how these limits apply to a particular project.
USDA describes the new process as a single national scoring and selection process rather than state-level competitions. Applications will be evaluated for completeness, eligibility, risk, and merit, and awards depend on available funds and criteria in the annual notice. The exact scoring weights and annual funding priorities are not stated in the rule announcement; consult the notice when USDA publishes it. Eligible applications are not guaranteed funding. The rule says applicants not funded may reassess eligibility and apply in a later cycle if they still meet the criteria.
The online portal is planned, not confirmed as open
USDA’s announcement says an online application portal is planned. It does not say that the portal is already operational or that applications are being accepted. USDA says annual notices will provide grant-window dates.
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![[2-Pack] Reusable Ethanol Testing Kit - Wide Mouth Fuel Test Bottle for E85 and Ethanol Levels - Fewer Spills and Clear Results in Minutes - Test Hundreds of Times - Two Ethanol Test Bottles Included](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n+oPbsvaL._SL160_.jpg)
- Wide Mouth Design for Fewer Spills: Designed specifically with a wide mouth to easily pour gasoline and water into the bottle without spills and leaks. No more getting gas on your hands or searching for a funnel to fill and test your ethanol levels
- Reusable Over and Over: This fuel test bottle allows you to measure ethanol or E85 levels in your gasoline hundreds of times, with a screen-printed label made to last
- Quick and Clear Results: Test your gasoline levels in 5 minutes and three simple steps. Add water to the Water Fill Line. Then add gas to the Gasoline Fill Line. Shake well and wait five minutes. Gasoline and water will separate to provide clear results
- Easy to Read Label: With bright Water and Gasoline Fill lines and clear percentage levels, measuring gasohol, ethanol or E85 levels in your fuel has never been easier
- Protect Your Engine in Minutes: Ensure correct ethanol levels to protect and maintain your engine with our quick 5 minute test. Whether you are looking for an ethanol test kit or an E85 test kit, this bottle will correctly measure alcohol levels in both types of gasoline
How to prepare for a possible REAP grant application
- Check the annual notice before treating the opportunity as open. It will establish the application dates and funding priorities. A rule effective date is not a grant deadline.
- Confirm project eligibility against the final rule. Review ownership, site, component-origin, technology-use, and single- versus multilocation limits against your actual project.
- Plan for the required performance record. The rule calls for 12 months of actual operating data and 12 months of pre-installation data. Keep the records that demonstrate production or savings, costs, and system performance.
- Account for the post-completion sequence. Because the project must already be operational, evaluate how to finance and document its completion without assuming that a REAP award will follow.
- For loan financing, verify current OneRD information. The dashboard balance can change, and an available program balance is not an assurance that a particular loan will be approved.
USDA says the rule is intended to simplify applications and reduce processing backlogs. That is the agency’s stated aim, not evidence that the process will already be faster for applicants.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.REAP and HBIIP serve different needs
| Program | What it supports | Funding instrument | What to check for your project |
|---|---|---|---|
| REAP | Renewable-energy systems and energy-efficiency improvements for agricultural producers and rural small businesses | Grant competition and guaranteed loans | Grant applicants must meet the new completed-project and performance-data rules. Check current notices and loan availability separately. |
| HBIIP | Infrastructure to blend, store, or distribute biofuels, including installing, retrofitting, or upgrading ethanol dispensers | Grant program | USDA’s May 2026 notice says funds are exhausted; do not treat HBIIP as an open grant option. |
USDA’s Inflation Reduction Act overview lists original statutory authorizations of up to $2.025 billion for REAP and up to $500 million for HBIIP. Those are historical authorization amounts, not current balances or newly released 2026 funding. See the USDA Inflation Reduction Act funding overview.
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Rank #4
- SPILL-PROOF WIDE MOUTH DESIGN: This e85 ethanol tester features an wide opening that eliminates messy spills when pouring gasoline/water, and no funnel required. The leak-resistant construction keeps hands clean while collecting fuel samples, making this ethanol tester for gasoline ideal for garage and field use.
- 3-STEP ACCURACY IN 5 MINS: Get laboratory-grade precision through this e85 fuel octane tester: First: fill to blue water line. Next: add gas to red fuel line. And then shake and wait 5 minutes. The e85 fuel test bottle clearer ethanol percentage readings than standard test kits.
- PROFESSIONAL-GRADE DURABILITY: This octane tester for gasoline constructed with chemical-resistant HDPE material that withstands 200+ test cycles. Heat-defying walls prevent warping in extreme temps, while the scratch-proof screen-printed markings stay legible through heavy use.
- SMART DUAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM: The e85 octane tester color-coded fill lines (blue for water/red for gas) align with 5% increment scales on both front/back sides. The ultra-clear e85 fuel test bottle body allows 360° visual verification, ensuring precise E85 compatibility checks for any engine type.
- PORTABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT: Measuring 5.9 inches with a 1-ounce featherweight profile, this e85 tester kit delivers professional-grade ethanol testing anywhere. Obtain precise readings within 5 minutes to verify fuel ethanol levels, safeguarding your engine's peak performance through optimal fuel quality control.
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