Information: Biofuels and Biodiesel

What is biofuel?
Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass or plantlife can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called "biofuels," to help meet transportation fuel needs. The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Ethanol is an alcohol, the same as in beer and wine (although ethanol used as a fuel is modified to make it undrinkable). It is made by fermenting any biomass high in carbohydrates through a process similar to beer brewing. Today, ethanol is made from starches and sugars such as those found in corn.

Biodiesel is made by combining alcohol (usually methanol) with vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled cooking grease. The SWBA's primarily focus is on biodiesel and fuels made from algae because the crops for these fuels are particularly well suited to be grown in the Southwest. Biodiesel and algae-derived fuels also can be made from non-food, low water and low environmental impact sources - another focus of the SWBA.

What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning, alternative fuel derived from select natural plant oils and animal fats and typically blended with petroleum diesel for use in diesel vehicles; it requires few or no engine modifications and has demonstrated significant environmental and economic benefits for fleet operations and other consumer end uses. Biodiesel is biodegradable and nontoxic, reduces harmful carbon dioxide emissions, and has the highest energy balance of any available fuel.

Is biodiesel approved for use?
Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and designated an alternative fuel by both the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Anointed by the DOE as America's fastest growing fuel, biodiesel production more than doubled last year to an estimated 225 million gallons.

Where is biodiesel produced?
Nearly 300 million gallons of biodiesel will be produced this year by American companies in as many as 100 facilities nationwide. Most of this capacity comes from
Iowa and Texas, but the natural conditions coupled with industry and technological advancements are making areas such as New Mexico and Montana ideal locations for new feedstocks, production facilities, and points of distribution. The Southwest's dry and warm climate, in particular, is ideally suited for growth of biodiesel feedstocks and promises to become a prominent producer and exporter of biodiesel.