The article is poorly worded. It’s not illegal to make the stuff. It’s illegal to make it without required permits and/or not pay tax on it.
But by what right can the [federal] government require permits/tax?
I believe one can make ethanol for fuel. It only becomes illegal if you drink it.
Easiest way to make a still is to use a pressure canner. Remove the pressure gauge and attach a piece of copper tubing. You can use a cork as a connector. A thermometer plumbed into the canner lid is nice to have. Run your collector tube into a copper cool in a bucket with a spigot coming out the edge at the bottom of the bucket. Fill the bucket with ice and water. Fill the pressure cooker 3/4 full with some kind of wine or mash. Heat to 180 degrees (no higher) and wait for the shine to come out the spigot. Always want to discard the first five shots (fore shots) because any methanol and impurities will come off first. You should yield 1 part shine for 10 parts wine as most wine is around 10% ABV. If you are just starting, is is easiest to distill wine. Cooking and fermenting mash takes some wisdom. Your wisdom will come mostly from bad experience.
This will make really good fuel for your mower..