• All the ethanol-making products that we sell have a PROVEN track record. They will give you between 180 and 190+ proof fuel grade ethanol the first run! They are easy to build or purchase.
• An average home owner uses only 1800 gallons of fuel a year for two vehicles. That's only 150 gallons of fuel a month. You can use the ethanol right out of your still for your vehicle or "dry" the ethanol and mix of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline to get the most popular ethanol/gasoline mixture: E85.

The process of making ethanol is simple, but can be labor-intensive if it's not automated. The BASIC steps are:

1. SECURE FEEDSTOCK (purchase or get for free) The most popular feedstocks are starch products (corn, wheat), sugar products (molasses, sugars, juices) and cellulose (paper, cardboard, plant stalk) products. Judging by the calls we've been getting, figuring out which feedstock to use is the first big hump for many people to get over.

The problem is that there's no single answer for everyone. People in the South may be able to get molasses or other sugars for next to nothing. Others may have a friend with more grain than they know what to do with. Many people can find a source of cardboard, paper or plant matter for free. It really takes getting to know your local landscape to answer this question. Just remember to keep it cheap and sustainable.

2. PROCESS FEEDSTOCK to get it ready to ferment. If you start with a grain or cellulose feedstock, you'll need to grind or shred it first. Then you have to turn your feedstock into sugars either by cooking (for grain) or with the use of enzymes (for grain and cellulose).

4. FERMENT your feedstock and water with yeast into an ethanol and water mix called the 'beer'. The yeast for producing ethanol is chosen for its ability to withstand high alcohol percentages and lots of heat, no matter the noxious and malodorous by-products. Believe me, you wouldn't want to drink this stuff!

5. DISTILL the ethanol from the water with a boiler and a fuel-grade ethanol still. You get high-proof ethanol out of one nozzle of the still and low-proof out of another. The low-proof goes back into your boiler the next time your'e distilling.

6. DISPOSE of your feedstock residue. Solid feedstocks may have useful by-products like high-protein grain solids or burnable lignin. Liquid feedstocks will leave you with nutrient-rich water which may be useful for fertilizing a garden.

With all the feedstock and water involved, it's clear that there will be more than just an ethanol still involved in this system. What the whole ethanol production plant will look like is going to depend on your feedstock and your creativity. Here are some things to think about when planning an ethanol plant:

* You'll need bins and barrels for holding and mixing your feedstock and water -- maybe even several 85-gallon drums if you're making big batches.
* Converting the starch or cellulose to sugar and then frementing it into a beer will have by-products that need to be removed. Creativity is key here. Some people have found used washing machines with a cloth liner in the basket to be a great way to 'spin-cycle' their useful sugars away from the by-products.
* Getting the alcohol out of the beer requires heat, so you'll need a boiler. A typical home water heater can be converted to feed into your still. Using a wind generator or a solar hot water panel for your heat source is the green way to fuel this process.
* If you plan to mix your ethanol with gasoline, you'll need to remove all traces of water from the alcohol with Zeolites and then store the resulting 200-proof in an air-tight container.

• We hope we can answer all of your questions concerning fuel alcohol in our FAQ'S
• PERMIT REQUIRED! By law (in the USA) one needs to apply for a permit from the ATF. For actual ATF alcohol fuel permit form click here. You can download the form TODAY, fill it out and mail in. It takes about 3-4 weeks to get your permit.
• The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980 opened the door for small energy producers.
• Also there is up to a $.51 to $1.40 (if you combine both state and Federal) tax credit for each gallon of 190 + ethanol used in a business for using alcohol.(E85 gasoline does NOT qualify for the Federal tax credit because it contains 15% gasoline) You can run your car, heat your home office, shop or use it for any other purpose as long as it is for your business! For all the information you need, please click here to go to the IRS page on the Alcohol credit. Just think of driving your car and getting a tax credit too!!! This is perfectly legal as our government wants YOU to help end our dependence on foreign oil by using HOME GROWN ethanol.
• For the IRS publication on tax credits for fuel alcohol and BioDiesel click here.
• Form 6478 is the "Credit for Alcohol Used as Fuel. Here is the form where you claim your producers and fuel usage tax credit.
• There are Federal IRS tax forms for different types of tax credits: Form 8849 and Form 720
• Most States now offer some type of incentive for alcohol or BioDiesel. Click here for checking to see what YOUR state has to offer. For example, in the state of Colorado we can take a state tax credit for the device converting your vehicle to ethanol.
• As a BUSINESS you can get up to a 30% tax credit for a fuel-dispensing device. As an individual you can get a $1,000 tax credit. For complete details download IRS Form 8911

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