- Biofuel is considered renewable because it is often made from biomass produced from vegetative matter. Fossil fuels like oil and coal are considered finite resources because they exist in limited quantities and are produced over the course of millions of years through natural processes that cannot be controlled by humans. On the other hand, biofuels are often made from crops that can be replanted. Biofuel can also be made from organic waste matter, another source that is constantly replenishing itself.
- The most popular type of biofuel is ethanol, a biofuel typically made of corn. Ethanol is often blended with gasoline to create a cleaner-burning fuel for vehicles. About half of all gasoline in the United States is E-10, a 10 percent ethanol/90 percent gasoline blend. E-85, 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is used to power flex-fuel vehicles.
- Biodiesel is a form of biofuel that is produced from new or used vegetable oils and animal fats. Interest in biodiesel has largely been triggered by a grass-roots movement of individuals who began to make their own fuel at home. Biodiesel can be used in many diesel-powered vehicles without much modification to the engine. However, older model diesel engines may require some overhaul before they can handle biodiesel. In recent years a small biodiesel industry has grown within the United States, and biodiesel is now available at some gas stations.
- Biofuels offer a number of benefits to society. For one, they can help to protect the environment. Biofuels produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels, making them a valuable tool in the fight against global warming. Biofuels can have other environmental benefits as well. For example, ethanol has been used to replace the methyl tertiary butyl ether (MBTE) as an additive to gasoline. MBTE is a carcinogenic in large concentrations and has been found to pollute groundwater, making it potentially unsafe for human use. Biofuel has also been viewed as a way to decrease America's reliance on foreign sources of oil and improve energy security. In terms of economics, investment in biofuel can create new green jobs domestically.
- Critics have attempted to link increased production of ethanol and other types of biofuel to rising food costs. In particular, they link rises in the price of corn -- a relative cheap crop used in many types of manufactured foods -- to increased demand for ethanol. However, a number of other factors may have contributed to rising corn prices. For instance, rising oil prices may have made the cost of growing corn more expensive. After all, contemporary agricultural operations rely on petroleum to power farm equipment and also often use petroleum-based pesticides to protect crops from pests. Furthermore, corn and other major food commodities like soy are just one source of biofuel. Non-food crops and municipal waste can also be used to produce biofuel,
