Tom Volkening, Engineering Librarian, has created a separate LibGuide on Biofuels and Bioenergy Resources highlighting useful Library of Congress subject headings, providing journal links, and identifying possible databases for finding further journal articles.
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Alternative Fuel News : Biofuels
American Coalition for Ethanol
The grassroots voice of the U.S. ethanol industry, the nation's largest non-profit association dedicated to the use and production of ethanol. ACE members include ethanol producers, industry suppliers, associations, and individuals who care about renewable fuel. Ethanol drives economic development, adds value to agriculture, and moves our nation toward energy independence. It cleans America's air and offers consumers a cost-effective choice at the pump. This year the U.S. ethanol industry will grow to provide more than 7 billion gallons of clean burning fuel for our country's supply. Please use this site to learn more about ethanol and its many benefits.
Biodiesel : the Official Website of the National Biodiesel Board
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is the national trade association representing the biodiesel industry in the United States. Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil, and which meets the specifications of ASTM D 6751.
Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network (BFIN)
A gateway to a wealth of biomass feedstock information resources from the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and other research organizations.
Biofuels FAQs
The intent of this guide is to lay the facts out clearly, dispel certain commonly held myths, and state the case for biofuels objectively.
Biofuels : News and Information about Biofuel and Biomass Fuel Technology
Biofuels: What Place in Our Energy Future?
In the past few years biofuels, or at least corn ethanol, have gone from saviour to Satan in the American media. Touted as a cheap and abundant source of fuel that would boost the rural economy, free us from foreign oil dependency, and alleviate global warming, ethanol is now widely viewed as a boondoggle, a giveaway to agribusiness that has inflated food prices around the world while supplying precious little fuel. Which picture of biofuels is the true one? The answer to this question is that there is no answer, at least so far. Assessing biofuels is more complicated than assessing other renewables, such as wind or solar energy. A life cycle analysis is needed, encompassing every aspect of the fuels, including energy input, production, transportation, and the final burning as fuel. While all forms of energy require such an analysis, with biofuels it is more complex due to the many factors involved in growing and processing organic matter. Indirect costs that depend on what could have been grown in place of the biofuel crops and what other land is cleared to make up for lost agriculture make the assessment process even more difficult. Ethan Goffman. A Proquest Discovery Guide. April 2009.
Biomass Biofuel Ethanol Alternative Energy (YouTube)
Watch how corn, switchgrass, and other abundant food sources in the western hemisphere support renewable power.
Biomass Energy and Fuels
We have used biomass energy or bioenergy - the energy from organic matter - for thousands of years, ever since people started burning wood to cook food or to keep warm. And today, wood is still our largest biomass energy resource. But many other sources of biomass can now be used, including plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. Even the fumes from landfills can be used as a biomass energy source. The use of biomass energy has the potential to greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.... Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com Technology Basics.
Chevron : Biofuels
Biofuels are transportation fuels produced from biomass. Biofuels fall into two broad categories based on their feedstock and the process used to produce the finished product.
Energy Harvest : Power from the Farm
The U.S. ethanol industry's hunger for corn has focused attention on agriculture's growing role in helping wean the nation from imported fuels. Greenwire explores the phenomenon in this series. A special report from E&E Publishing : the premier info source for professionals who track environmental and energy policy.
ExxonMobile Algae Biofuels
Learn how the oil company ExxonMobil is funding research into algae-based fuel production, a renewable energy source with several distinct advantages.
International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Portal
IEA Bioenergy is an organisation set up in 1978 by the International Energy Agency (IEA) with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment. Be sure to check out the Library and Links sections.
Journal to Forever Online Biofuels Library
Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission
National Agricultural Library Bioenergy and Biofuels Portal
National Biodiesel Board
The national trade association representing the biodiesel industry in the United States. Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil, and which meets the specifications of ASTM D 6751. (Also listed as Biodiesel)
National Geographic's Biofuel Facts / Biofuel Information Page
Biofuels have been around as long as cars have. At the start of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to fuel his Model Ts with ethanol, and early diesel engines were shown to run on peanut oil.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Biomass Energy Basics
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Biofuels
OilHeatAmerica Bioheat Page
Bioheat — heating oil blended with biodegradable, organic materials such as soybean oil — is one of the “hottest” things happening in home comfort. Renewable and non-toxic, Bioheat is not only kind to Mother Earth; it’s kind to heating systems, too.
Testing conducted by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) found that a Bioheat blend of 80% low-sulfur heating oil and 20% biodiesel (B20) reduced sulfur oxide emissions by as much as 80% or more. Nitrogen oxide emissions were lowered by about 20%. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions can be lowered by 20%.
If everyone using heating oil used a B5 blend (5% biodiesel/95% heating oil), 400 million gallons of regular heating oil could be conserved. This would be a big step towards conserving oil, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association promotes policies, regulations and research supporting the ethanol industry.
Shell : Biofuels
Biofuels produced from biomass such as plants could help reduce both the world’s dependence on oil and CO2 production. Shell is one of the world’s largest distributors of biofuels. We are working to develop next-generation biofuels that offer less CO2 production.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Bioenergy
ERS is approaching bioenergy issues in several ways: (1) Monitoring the state of the agricultural system and rural communities; (2) Providing market analyses; (3) Developing projections of commodity supply, demand, and retail food prices; and (4) Conducting in-depth research on policy-relevant topics.
U.S. Department of Energy : Bioenergy
Biomass offers America tremendous opportunity to use domestic and sustainable resources to provide its fuel, power, and chemical needs from plants and plant-derived materials. The Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Biomass Program, run by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy includes major programs for developing and improving technology for biomass power; for making biofuels such as ethanol (from biomass residues as well as grain) and renewable diesel; and for making plastics and chemicals from renewable, biobased materials.