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ALTERNATIVE FUEL USERS RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE STATE
WINSTOM SALEM JOURNAL - Bob Teixeira, a Charlotte guitar teacher, took a
stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil last fall and spent $1,200
to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He buys
soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, which costs him about a third
more than diesel. Despite his good intentions, the state fined Teixeira
$1,000 for not paying motor-fuel taxes. North Carolina officials also
told him that to legally use veggie oil here, he'd have to first post a
$2,500 bond. Such penalties have also been levied against other North
Carolina drivers whose vehicles were powered by alternative fuels.
"If somebody was going to go to this much trouble to drive around in a
car that uses soybean oil, they ought to be exempt" from state taxes,
said state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, who drives a diesel Volkswagen
fueled by used soybean oil that sports a sign reading "Goodbye, OPEC."
Teixeira and other independent-minded drivers may get a break from the
state. The N.C. Department of Revenue, which fined Teixeira, has asked
legislators to waive the $2,500 bond for small fuel-users. Also, Revenue
officials told Teixeira the department will compromise on his fine.
But the state's not about to drop its taxes on all fuels used in highway
vehicles. North Carolina's 29.9-cent tax on a gallon of gas generates
$1.2 billion each year to pay for road construction.
http://journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ/
MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351566923&path=
!localnews&s=1037645509099
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ALTERNATIVE FUEL USERS RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE STATE
WINSTOM SALEM JOURNAL - Bob Teixeira, a Charlotte guitar teacher, took a
stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil last fall and spent $1,200
to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He buys
soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, which costs him about a third
more than diesel. Despite his good intentions, the state fined Teixeira
$1,000 for not paying motor-fuel taxes. North Carolina officials also
told him that to legally use veggie oil here, he'd have to first post a
$2,500 bond. Such penalties have also been levied against other North
Carolina drivers whose vehicles were powered by alternative fuels.
"If somebody was going to go to this much trouble to drive around in a
car that uses soybean oil, they ought to be exempt" from state taxes,
said state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, who drives a diesel Volkswagen
fueled by used soybean oil that sports a sign reading "Goodbye, OPEC."
Teixeira and other independent-minded drivers may get a break from the
state. The N.C. Department of Revenue, which fined Teixeira, has asked
legislators to waive the $2,500 bond for small fuel-users. Also, Revenue
officials told Teixeira the department will compromise on his fine.
But the state's not about to drop its taxes on all fuels used in highway
vehicles. North Carolina's 29.9-cent tax on a gallon of gas generates
$1.2 billion each year to pay for road construction.
http://journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ/
MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351566923&path=
!localnews&s=1037645509099
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