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State and Federal Incentives and Laws

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Hawaii Fuel Taxes

Alternative Fuel Tax Rate

A distributor of any alternative fuel for operation in an internal combustion engine is required to pay a license tax of $0.025 for each gallon of alternative fuel sold or used by the distributor. In addition, a distributor is required to pay a license tax for each gallon of fuel sold or used by the distributor for operating a motor vehicle(s) on state public highways according to the following rates:

Fuel Type Tax
Ethanol0.145 times the rate for diesel
Methanol0.11 times the rate for diesel
Biodiesel0.25 times the rate for diesel
Liquefied Petroleum Gas0.33 times the rate for diesel

For other alternative fuels, the rate is based on the energy content of the fuels as compared to diesel fuel, using a lower heating value of 130,000 British thermal units per gallon as a standard for diesel, so that the tax rate, on an energy content basis, is equal to one-quarter the rate for diesel fuel. (Reference Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 243-4)