The gas is greener

Biofuels promise to help reduce petroleum consumption and CO₂ emissions, but much of the potential depends on production and infrastructure investment.

As public interest in alternative, and particularly renewable, domestically produced fuels swings from apathetic to unrealistic, there is considerable debate about the role that fuels like ethanol and biodiesel can or should play.

There is no question they will play some role. The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 calls for domestic production of renewable fuels to climb from 4.0 billion gal (15.1 billion L) in 2006 to 7.5 billion gal (28.4 billion L) by 2012, and industry proponents predict actual production will easily outstrip requirements. This would have the effect of replacing 2 billion barrels of imported oil by 2012, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.