Biofuel is a new and exciting sustainable energy form. The name refers to fuel that is obtained by distilling biological material into alcohol that is typically combined with gasoline and diesel fuel. Materials that are commonly used to produce biofuel include corn, soybeans, sugar cane, flaxseed, and wood.
There are several reasons why biofuel is viewed as a sustainable energy source. First, it is renewable – crops can be planted anew each season and used to produce energy. Second, biofuels produce less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, which decreases greenhouse gas emissions. Third, some biofuels employ waste materials such as cooking oil or logging waste. This creates new energy from existing resources and decreases the energy that would have been spent on waste disposal. Overall, biofuels reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, such as oil, gas, and petroleum, which are a limited environmental resource and release undesirable greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Outside of the environmental realm, biofuel offers societal advantages as well. It provides an economic alternative to rising oil prices and it can be obtained domestically which quells concerns regarding energy security. As the biofuel industry continues to grow it can increase jobs through biofuel refineries and financially support farmers who cultivate the crops used. Although opportunities to utilize biofuel generally are still limited, hopefully this eco-friendly industry will continue to grow so that we can all take advantage of this sustainable energy form.
Written by Abigail Fagan, class of 2014
Photo by Allan Harris, February 3, 2012
https://www.flickr.com/photos/allan_harris/6835262369/in/photostream/
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