Several entities oversee, license, and regulate the use, sale, production, transportation, storage, and distribution of alternative fuels in the state of Alabama. Before embarking on any alternative fuel related activities, it is recommended that you contact the appropriate division of each of the following agencies for more information:

Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), adem.alabama.gov - Persons or companies interested in the production for use or for sale of alternative fuels should contact the ADEM Air Division for information and direction on how to proceed. Mr. Wes Thornhill is the initial contact for this information, and can be reached at 334-271-7887 or via email at jwt@adem.state.al.us.

Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR), The Alabama Department of Revenue is responsible for administering Alabama’s fuel tax laws and collecting state fuel excise taxes. Alternative fuels such as E85 and biodiesel are considered taxable gasoline and motor fuel products. Any person, before engaging in the business of producing, selling, distributing or withdrawing from storage gasoline or motor fuel in Alabama, must make application to the ADOR to engage in such a business as a licensed distributor. Evidence of a surety bond, based upon the average monthly excise tax liability, must be provided to the ADOR before a license is issued. Licensed distributors are required to file monthly fuel tax returns with the ADOR. This includes any person producing alternative fuel for personal use.

For more information, contact:

Alabama Department of Revenue
Sales, Use & Business Tax Division
Motor Fuels Section
P.O. Box 327540
Montgomery, AL 36132-7540
Telephone: (334) 242-9608
FAX: (334) 242-1199
Web site: revenue.alabama.gov

Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI), Waste Grease Haulers/Handlers are required by State and Federal laws to be registered with the Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI). For more information please call the ADAI Compliance Division at (334) 240-7210.

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), link - TTB is the Federal agency that administers laws and regulations pertaining to alcohol production and use. *Please Note: The TTB has recently clarified it's position on the production of alcohol and the use of alcohol production byproducts. Read more of this clarification here...

Summary of State & Federal Laws & Incentives, link - Database of state and federal laws and incentives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics.

Biodiesel FAQ, biodiesel.org - Frequently Asked Questions regarding biodiesel fuel.  Provided by biodiesel.org and the National Biodiesel Board.

Making Biodiesel, link - An in-depth "How To" on bio-diesel production

Woody Biomass: Energy Opportunities In Alabama,  Alabama Forestry Commission - This publication by the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) provides information on the woody biomass materials available in Alabama, timber harvest and price trends and per unit cost comparisons with traditional energy sources. It also contains references to further information that investors should find useful when deciding whether or not to install wood-using energy systems. References are provided to manufacturers of wood-using energy systems, grant sources, tax credit incentives, and case studies of others who have installed successful systems.

EERE Energy Education Site,  Kids Saving Energy - On this site you'll find links to games, tips, and facts for kids who want to save energy.  Be sure to check out the "Parents & Teachers" link for energy education and training resources, including lesson plans, activities, projects, and even energy efficiency and renewable energy contests for kids in grades K-12.

Oilseed, Biodiesel and Ethanol Subsidies & Renewable Energy Mandates: US Federal & Selected State Initiatives, link - A study of major federal and state governmental incentives and policies regarding ethanol and biodiesel production and consumption. By Joel Schumacher and the Agricultural Marketing Policy Center of Montana State University.

Alternative Fuels Data Center, www.eere.energy.gov/afdc - Centralized information resource alternative fuel and vehicle information needs. Site includes 3,000+ searchable documents, an alternative fuel station mapping system, listings of alternative fuel vehicles, and much more.

Cellulosic Biofuel Technologies Study, document - The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate technologies for production of cellulosic biofuels. This document summarizes information obtained in a survey of cellulosic biofuel technologies.

Market Development for Commercialization of Biopower in Alabama, document - The goal of this project was to encourage market development and commercialization of biopower in Alabama.

Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85, document - This guidebook contains information about EPAct alternative fuels regulations for fleets, FFVs, E85 properties and specifications, and handling and storage guidelines.

Tax Incentives Assistance Project, www.energytaxincentives.org - TIAP was developed to give consumers and businesses the information needed to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies

National Biodiesel Board, www.biodiesel.org - The NBB is a national trade association for the biodiesel industry as the coordinating body for research and development in the US. NBB coordinates and interacts with a broad range of cooperators including industry, government, and academia.

National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, www.e85fuel.com - NEVC serves as the nation’s primary advocacy group promoting the use of 85% ethanol as a renewable form of alternative transportation fuel. NEVC members include state and local interest groups, state and local elected officials, ethanol producers, vehicle manufacturers, agricultural interests, ethanol suppliers, and others.

NEVC Notes on Ethanol Use In Small Engines

Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, www.alabamacleanfuels.org - ACFC is focused on bringing Alternative Fuels and Alternative Fuel Vehicles to towns and cities in Alabama by increasing the availability of those fuels and the use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels in Alabama.

BIOCO, www.biorefinery-technology.com - BIOCO provides biorefinery products, technology, and research for the production and processing of synthetic fuels and their byproducts.

XcelPlus, www.flextek.com - Exclusive provider of technology that allows virtually any fuel injected vehicle to efficiently burn ethanol (E85), gasoline, or any blend of the two fuels. FlexTek is currently in use in more than 50,000 vehicles. XcelPlus, Incorporated International is based in Saluda, Virginia.

Cellulosic Biofuel Technologies Study, document - The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate technologies for production of cellulosic biofuels. This document summarizes information obtained in a survey of cellulosic biofuel technologies.

Market Development for Commercialization of Biopower in Alabama, document - The goal of this project was to encourage market development and commercialization of biopower in Alabama.

WCHX Rail, www.wchxrail.com - Offers leasing of Ethanol and BioDiesel Tank Cars. WCHX Rail is a Walter Haffner Company located in Mobile, Alabama.

Search For Federal Grants:
You can use the search tools at grants.gov to search for grants offered by all 26 federal grant-making agencies

TARP Related Funding Opportunities
Deadline: vary by program
Newsletter of Funding Solicitations, Issue #189, containing information on RFP's created or supplemented as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. more...

Additional "Recovery" Related Resources
Deadline: vary by program
The Alabama starting point for recovery related resources can be found here: http://recovery.alabama.gov. Federal resources and possible grantee opportunities may be found at this website: http://www.recovery.gov.

Alabama Dept of Economic Development & Community Affairs - Biofuels For Schools Grants
Deadline: Limited by availabilty
The ADECA - Energy, Weatherization and Technology (ADECA-EWT) Division promotes the use of biofuels as a way to increase energy independence, improve air quality, and enhance economic development in Alabama. In conjunction with this effort, ADECA-EWT has developed the Alabama Biofuels for Schools Grant Program to increase the availability and use of biofuels in school buses in Alabama. This program will pay up to $2,500 of the cost of cleaning existing fuel tanks in preparation for storage of B20 for use in Alabama school buses. more...

Alabama Dept of Revenue Income Tax Capital Credit Incentive
Deadline: Ongoing
The Income Tax Capital Credit incentive is available to qualifying projects through the State of Alabama Department of Revenue. The capital credit allows five percent (5%) of the capital costs of a qualifying project to be applied to the Alabama income tax liability generated by the project income, each year for 20 years. more...

ARC Appalachian Regional Development
Deadline: Ongoing
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awards grants to projects that further the goals identified in ARC strategic plans for the Applachian region. more...

Dept of Energy Save Energy Now Program
Deadline: Limited by number available
DOE's Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) established Save Energy Now to help industrial plants operate more efficiently and profitably by identifying ways to reduce energy use in key industrial process systems. As a key element of Save Energy Now, DOE conducts plant energy assessments to help manufacturing facilities identify immediate opportunities to save energy and money. more...

National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
Deadline: Varies by program
The NRI Competitive Grants Program supports research, education, and extension projects that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture, including sustainable alternative energy resources more...

Economic Development Administration
Deadline: Ongoing
EDA is soliciting applications that will promote comprehensive entrepreneurial
and innovation-based economic development efforts to enhance the
competitiveness of regions, resulting in increased private investment and higherskill
wage jobs in areas experiencing substantial and persistence economic
distress. more...

USDA Renewable Energy and Efficiency Grant Program
Deadline: Ongoing
Grants for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and to make energy efficiency improvements. more...

Alternative Fueling Station Locator - AFSL Link - Search for stations offering biodiesel, E85, electricity, CNG, LP, hydrogen, and LNG. The results are displayed in a map with details on each station.

Where To Buy Biodiesel - click here - List of biodesel retail locations in Alabama

Alabama Biodiesel Corporation, www.alabamabiodieselcorp.com - Alabama Biodiesel is an Alabama producer and marketer of biodiesel products. Alabama Biodiesel Corporation biodiesel is produced from soybean oil that is grown and refined in the USA.

Biodiesel Logic, www.biodiesellogic.com - A provider of biodiesel processing equipment for small to medium scale biodiesel production.  Biodiesel Logic also provides training for the installation and operation of biodiesel processing equipment.

Independence Renewable Energy Corporation (IREC), Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, IREC's new Claiborne refinery with produce up to 40 million gallons of biodiesel annually. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be made from vegetable oils and animal fats. In their new Claiborne biodiesel plant will use soybean oil to produce the fuel, and it is expected to use more than 26 million bushels of soybeans a year. The Claiborne refinery’s biodiesel will be sold to local distributors and mixed with petroleum diesel to make different fuel grades for consumers.

Merritt Oil, www.merrittoil.com - Distributor of BioDiesel to retail locations in Alabama and throughout the southeast. Merritt Oil offers blends of BioDiesel from B1 to B99.9 to convenience stores and truck stops, marinas, farms, and trucking companies, among others.

Research Solvents & Chemicals, www.researchsolvents.com - Research Solvents & Chemicals, is an Alabama-based supplier of methanol, one of the key raw materials used in the production of biodiesel.

Utah Biodiesel Supply, www.utahbiodieselsupply.com - Offering kits, supplies, and educational information on producing Biodiesel on a small scale.