Kentucky begins Renewable Chemical Production Program

Kentucky companies can now apply for the state’s Renewable Chemical Production Program, Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles has announced.

“Agriculture is a very conservation-minded industry,” Commissioner Quarles said. “Thanks to new laws passed by the General Assembly, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and other agencies are working together to provide an economic incentive for agribusinesses to look at ways to make new products out of renewable diesel or biodiesel. I’m optimistic the private sector will help lead the way in innovation in this sector.”

The program incentivizes the production of more than 30 specified chemicals derived from biomass feedstocks by giving eligible companies tax credits for their capital investment, job creation, and renewable chemical production.

The program will share tax credits previously established for renewable diesel or biodiesel production in the commonwealth. The total amount of tax credit shall be 5 cents per molecular pound of weight of renewable chemicals produced in Kentucky by an eligible business, unless the total amount of approved credits for all taxpayers exceeds the annual cap of $10 million for the program.

Kentucky developed the program to capitalize on its resources and infrastructure and to support the growth of the renewable chemical manufacturing industry. It addresses the unique opportunity to advance the state’s economy by utilizing biomass feedstocks for the production of environmentally sustainable products.

For the renewable chemical production tax credit, the bill, which was passed by the Kentucky legislature in 2020, states eligible renewable chemicals are limited to building block chemicals with a biobased content percentage of at least 50 percent, except for chemicals sold or used for the production of food, feed, or fuel.

Program eligibility requirements for renewable chemicals, creation of jobs, or investment of new capital related to renewable chemical production, and reporting requirements for eligible companies are established by 302 KAR 4:010.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will help administer the program, coordinating with the Kentucky Department of Revenue in awarding the tax credits to eligible companies producing renewable chemicals.

To be eligible for the renewable chemical production tax credit, a business must:

•Be physically located in Kentucky;

•Operate for profit;

•Organize, expand, or locate in this state on or after July 1, 2020;

•Create new jobs and retain those jobs for at least four years or invest a substantial amount of new capital in the commonwealth and maintain that capital for at least four years;

•Cannot provide professional services, health care services, medical treatments, or engage in retail operations and cannot relocate operations from another area of Kentucky or reduce operations in another area of the state while seeking this incentive.

To find out more about Kentucky’s Renewable Chemical Production Program or to request an application, contact Tim Hughes at timd.hughes@ky.gov.

Complete applications along with the required $500 compliance fee must be filed with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture by Jan. 15, 2022.

To learn more about the tax credit rate calculation, visit the Kentucky Department of Revenue’s website.