Biodiesel Laws and Incentives in Virginia
The list below contains summaries of all Virginia laws and incentives related to biodiesel.
State Incentives
Agriculture and Forestry Biofuel Production Grants
The Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund provides grants to promote and develop the agriculture and forestry industry in Virginia and create or expand value-added facilities, including qualified biofuel production facilities. Individual grants may not exceed $500,000. Eligible applicants include local governments and other Virginia political subdivisions working with qualified businesses. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.
(Reference Virginia Code 3.2-304)
Alternative Fuel Tax Exemption
Alternative fuel is exempt from taxes if it is sold to a government entity for its exclusive use, a non-profit charitable organization for the purpose of providing charitable services for low-income medical patients, or produced by an agricultural operation and used exclusively for farm use or vehicles of that producer.
(Reference Virginia Code 58.1-2250)
Biodiesel Production Tax Credit
Qualified biodiesel and green diesel producers are eligible for a tax credit of $0.01 per gallon of biodiesel or renewable diesel fuels produced. This credit is available for producers who generate up to two million gallons of biodiesel or renewable diesel fuel per year. The annual credit may not exceed $5,000, and producers are only eligible for the credit for the first three years of production. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy must certify qualified producers. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Taxation Environmental Credits website.
(Reference Virginia Code 58.1-439.12:02)
Biofuel Feedstock Registration Exemption
Individuals that transport waste kitchen grease for conversion to biofuel are exempt from both the Virginia Department of Health registration and the associated annual application fee. This exemption applies to individuals transporting the waste kitchen grease for their own consumption in a container with a capacity of no more than 275 gallons, and to kitchen grease transportation to a biofuel production facility. Eligible facilities may not have a production capacity over 500 gallons per day of biofuel nor possess or control more than 1,320 gallons of kitchen grease, biofuel feedstock derived from kitchen grease, or biofuel at any one time. Other restrictions and requirements apply. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Transporters of Waste Kitchen Grease website.
(Reference Virginia Code 3.2-5508 through 3.2-5516)
Government Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Incentive
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation, offers up to $10,000 to state agencies and local governments for the incremental cost of new or converted AFVs. To be eligible, vehicles must comply with Buy America provisions or qualify for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, and must be garaged in areas of air quality nonattainment, as recognized by the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. For more information, see the Virginia CMAQ Incentive Program website.
Green Jobs Tax Credit
Qualified employers are eligible for a $500 tax credit for each new green job created that offers a salary of at least $50,000, for up to 350 jobs per employer. The credit is allowed for the first five years that the job is continuously filled. For the purposes of this tax credit, a green job is defined as employment in industries relating to renewable or alternative energy, including hydrogen and fuel cell technology, landfill gas, and biofuels. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Taxation Environmental Credits website.
(Reference Virginia Code 58.1-439.12:05)
Laws and Regulations
Alternative Fuel Provider License
Alternative fuel providers, bulk users, and retailers, or any person who fuels an alternative fuel vehicle from a private source that does not pay the alternative fuels tax must obtain an alternative fuel license from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). For more information, see the DMV Fuels Tax Licensing website.
(Reference Virginia Code 58.1-2244)
Alternative Fuel School Bus and Fueling Infrastructure Loans
The Virginia Board of Education may use funding from the Literary Fund to provide loans to school boards that convert school buses to operate on alternative fuels or construct alternative fueling stations.
(Reference Virginia Code 22.1-146)
Alternative Fuel Tax
Alternative fuels used to operate on-road vehicles are taxed at an annually adjusted rate per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE). Alternative fuels are taxed at the same rate as gasoline and gasohol. Refer to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Fuels Tax Rates and Alternative Fuels Conversion website for fuel-specific GGE calculations.
(Reference Virginia Code 58.1-2217 and 58.1-2249)
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Grant Authorization
Local governments are authorized to establish a green bank to promote investment in clean energy technologies, including AFVs and related infrastructure.
(Reference Virginia Code 15.2-958.3:1)
Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Definitions
Biodiesel is defined as a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats that is designated B100 and meets the requirements of ASTM D6751. Renewable diesel is a fuel produced from non-fossil renewable resources, including agricultural or silvicultural plants; animal fats; residue and waste generated from the production, processing, and marketing of agricultural products, silvicultural products; and other renewable resources; that meets applicable ASTM standards.
(Reference Virginia Code 58.1-439.12:02)
More Laws and Incentives
To find laws and incentives for other alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, search all laws and incentives.