In early 2000, legislation passed in Hawaii to provide tax credits for the production of ethanol in the state. The new law will help sugar growers on Kauai and Maui by offering incentives to use molasses and other wastes as the feedstock for ethanol. Supporters also hope the possibility of using municipal solid waste as a feedstock will cut down on the amount of waste being landfilled. Manufacturers that produce between 500,000 and one million gallons of ethanol will receive a non refundable 30% investment tax credit or $150,000, whichever is less. The credit increases for producers that manufacture more ethanol, capping at 30% or $4.5 million dollars for companies that produce over 15 million gallons per year. The credit period runs for a maximum of eight years. In addition, once the combined nameplate capacities of facilities operating in the state meet or exceed 40 million gallons per year, no new claims will be allowed under the bill. "Nameplate capacity" is defined as a facility's production design capacity.

More:

• Hawaii Revised Statutes §235-110.3 Ethanol investment tax credit.
• Department of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism has information on Ethanol in Hawaii
• Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Other Resources:

• How Much Energy Does It Take to Make a Gallon of Ethanol?- Institute for Local Self-Reliance, August 1995
• Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse
• Center for Cooperatives - at the University of Wisconsin.
• Rural Cooperatives Magazine (formerly known as Farmer Cooperatives)
• USDA Rural Development Program - this division of the U.S. Agriculture Department has an enormous collection of information resources on cooperatives including, Cooperative Information Reports, Cooperative Research Reports, and Cooperative Service Reports.
• The Impact of New Generation Cooperatives on Their Communities - USDA
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives