Skyrocketing production makes biodiesel part of the on-going US energy boom and a small reason why US oil consumption is declining. America's biodiesel plants increased production by 43% in the first half of 2012, compared to January to June 2011. http://www.eia.gov/biofuels/biodiesel/production. Production reached 523 million gallons or 12.4 million barrels.
US biodiesel production for the year will likely exceed 1 billion gallons or 25 million barrels. That is the equivalent of a bit less than 4 days of US domestic oil production that too is increasing.
All of America's biodiesel plants have a capacity to produce 2.1 billion gallons or approximately 50 million barrels. Pennsylvania's 6 plants can produce 91 million gallons.
Apart from the economic advantage of being a domestic transportation fuel that replaces a barrel of foreign oil for every barrel of biodiesel produced, biodiesel has environmental advantages over gasoline, including a much better energy balance. It is already a small reason why America's oil imports, oil consumption, and carbon emissions are declining.
More US biodiesel is good news for our environment, economy, and national security.
What is this bio-diesel made from ?
ReplyDeleteTo what extent is it supported by subsidies and mandates ?
Biodiesel is made from soybeans and grease. Biodiesel qualifies as a biofuel for the national biofuel standard and most state standards.
DeleteBiodiesel made from soybeans causes price hikes for food. That's not so good news.
ReplyDeleteWe should not burn our food.