Alternative Energy. Alabama

Transcription

1 Alabama has an excellent business climate, with a solid manufacturing base, aggressive tax incentive programs and a reliable transportation network, including a major seaport on the Gulf of Mexico. Market Access Alabama offers exceptional access to emerging energy resources the winds of the Plains States and the Atlantic Coast, abundant sun in the Southwest, and proposed nuclear facilities concentrated in the eastern U.S. For companies supplying components to wind, solar or nuclear power production facilities, Alabama provides a central location and strong logistical advantages. Sources: Wind Industry: American Wind Industry Association, economic development websites and company websites Solar Industry: Solarbuzz.com, economic development and company websites Updated July 2014 Produced July 2014

2 Biomass The Biomass Program, an initiative of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs - Division, has promoted wood waste as an alternative biomass energy source for over two decades. Wood-industry participants have been able to reduce production costs by using waste in the form of wood chips, sawdust and bark in new and/or converted wood-fired combustion systems. Woody Biomass by Private Ownership Alabama Miles Woody Biomass by Private Ownership Dry Tons Less Than 80,263,738 80,263, ,981, ,981, ,884,986 Greater Than 553,884,986 Miles Source: USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, Total Gross Timberland Biomass by Private Ownership >1 trees (in short tons), Data was check on USDA s FIDO II data extractor on July State s surveys ranged from 2011 to 2013 depending on availability. Alabama has the third most timberland acreage in the 48 contiguous states, behind only Georgia and Oregon. In terms of private timberland acreage is concerned, Alabama ranks second behind Georgia. Alabama is a biomass factory sitting on ready. Alabama has been a leader in the use of biomass for many years. In 2007, Alabama ranked 4th in the U.S. for electricity generation from biomass. Source: State of the States 2009: Renewable Development and the Role of Policy, National Renewable Laboratory, Oct 2009 Source: Alabama Forestry Commission,

3 Growing Research Alabama is home to several research universities working on renewable energy research Through direct research programs focusing on alternative/renewable energy or applied engineering research in numerous disciplines, Alabama has the intellectual capital to assist with the development and implementation of alternative fuels technologies. As universities with rich traditions in agriculture and forestry, Auburn University, Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University all have expertise in harnessing biomass resources and are conducting research in related areas. These institutions have numerous centers of excellence and are exploring emerging technologies using bio-crops like switch grass and other cellulosic feed stocks, wood waste and more. Selected /Renewable Research Alabama A & M University Huntsville, AL Research related to alternative energy: - Canola as a feedstock for biodiesel - Biomass from trees for energy - Fuel cell - Solar energy - Thermoelectric generation School of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences University of Alabama in Huntsville Center for Bio-energy and Bio-products Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresearch Engineering Wood Fiber Initiative in Science and Engineering (WISE) University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies - Fuel Cells Auburn University Auburn, AL College of Engineering Architecture and Physical Sciences has research expertise in renewable energy. Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL

4 Pro-Business Environment Attractive Tax Incentives Tax Credits Income Tax Capital Credit Alabama Enterprise Zone Income Tax Education Credit Federal Income Tax Deduction Abatements Property Tax Sales and Use Tax Grants Industrial Development Foreign Trade Zone Duty Exception on Re-Exports Relief From Inverted Tariffs Duty Elimination on Waste and Scrap No Duty on Rejected or Defective Parts Duty Deferral No Duty on Domestic Content or Value Added No Duty on Sales to the U.S. Military or NASA Low Taxes Tax State Data Sales Tax - General 4.00% Sales Tax - Mfg. Machinery 1.50% Property Tax 6.5 Assessment % 20% Inventory Tax No Corporate Income Tax Rate 6.50% (net effective rate: 4.5%*) Deductibility of Fed. Taxes -100% Alabama Business Privilege Tax $.25 to 1.75 per $1,000 of net worth (15K max for most business groups) Pollution Control Exemptions Property Tax Sales Tax State Unemployment Insurance 2014 Taxable Wage Base $8, New Employer Rate % 2.70% 2014 Minimum Rate % 0.89% 2014 Maximum Rate % 7.04% * Alabama allows for the deduction of federal income tax (one of the only states in the US to do so). Low Costs Low electricity costs per kilowatt hour rate for industrial sector users. (U.S. Information Administration, Avg. Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, Dec 2013) Workforce Advantages AIDT provides a total workforce management system, at no cost to the employers or trainees. Alabama is a right-to-work state. AIDT was awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification by the International Organization for Standardization. One-Stop Environmental Permitting The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has authority to issue the permits required by all the major federal environmental laws. Therefore, Alabama can offer one-stop permitting. Complex air and water permits are usually issued by ADEM within 60 days. Construction storm water permits are regularly issued within two or three days. Even PSD (Prevention of Significant Deterioration) analyses for major air permits can be completed in 120 days in many cases. Available Property Statewide Over 475 industrial and commercial buildings for sale or lease Available square footage ranges from 1,500 to 1 million sq. ft. Over 475 prepared industrial parks, green field sites and reusable property Acreage ranges from five to five thousand acres.

5 Green Technology Growing in Alabama GE will invest $43 million to create a center of excellence for top-freezers and green manufacturing. Decatur Daily, October 19, 2010 GE announced plans to invest heavily to re-tool a refrigerator plant in Decatur, AL. The company will invest $43 million to create a center of excellence for top-freezers and green manufacturing. This is in addition to a $16 million investment made earlier this year to transition to a new product insulation process. The new refrigerators also will be designed with Smart Grid technology allowing appliances to operate during times of the day when energy consumption is lower and less expensive. Mercedes Unwraps New Alabama-Built Hybrid The Birmingham News, April 9, 2009 Powered by both a nickel metal hydride battery and a V6 engine, the hybrid can operate entirely on electric power or gas, as well as a combination of both. It will offer better fuel economy and lower emissions. Biodiesel catalyst plant starts production in Alabama Biodiesel Magazine, May 2009 Evonik Degussa Corp. $15 million biodiesel catalyst plant starts production in Alabama. The 60,000 metric ton (16.5 million gallon) per year facility was built to serve North American biodiesel producers. Molded Fiber Glass of Alabama plans expansion soon 20,000 s.f. facility expansion to increase wind turbine nacelle production The Andalusia Star News, October 1, 2008 The site currently produces three fiberglass windmill enclosures per day and each phase of the expansion will add one more enclosure to the facility s daily production for a total projected production rate of six enclosures per day by the end of Recent Facility Announcements Company County Product Zikha Biomass Dallas Wood pellet plant The Westervelt Company Pickens Wood pellet plant Lee Solutions DeKalb Wood pellet plant Teledyne Brown Engineering Limestone Service modules for nuclear plants Allied Renewable Jefferson Biodiesel fuel Athens Biodiesel, LLC Limestone Biodiesel production Updated: April 2014