Biodiesel Expansion

Are you tired of getting into your car and thinking about all the carbon emissions that you�re sending into the atmosphere as you putter around to your work, school or recreational activities? Are you ready to change your lifestyle but unsure about how you can fulfill all your responsibilities in the seat of a bicycle? Many people are waiting for the scientific and technological communities to develop an alternative to gas and oil so that they can feel better about using their cars and trucks. Some have pointed to the biodiesel expansion as an indication that we are quickly moving toward an oil free society.

If you�ve never really heard of the biodiesel expansion before, it is simply a term that members of the renewable energy industry are using to refer to the explosive growth that is happening in this field. Produced through a chemical process called transesterification, biodiesel is made by separating glycerin from fat, grease or vegetable oils. As a result, methyl esters are produced which is the technical name given to biodiesel, and glycerin which can be used to make soaps and other products. The best part about this fuel is that it contains absolutely no petroleum, meaning that burning it in your vehicle produces far less toxic emissions.

As with most alternative fuels that have been offered as a solution to the fossil fuel problem in the United States, biodiesel still has issues with accessibility and price. Many people don�t know where to purchase biodiesel in their town, and this is usually a deterrent to purchasing vehicles that can use it, or converting their current vehicles to use it. Thankfully, the biodiesel expansion is making it easier for the average car owner to have access to a steady supply of this renewable, non-toxic fuel.

Many people who are just learning about the biodiesel expansion are surprised to learn that the very first production plant was built way back in 1996. This means that people have recognized this plant based fuel as a viable alternative to gasoline for many years. However, it wasn�t until the past eight or ten years or so that a major industry acceptance has occurred. Demand for biodiesel, which is now being used to power many commercial and municipal fleets has skyrocketed into the billions of gallons a year more recently. If you are interested in taking advantage of this fuel alternative, there are many resources about buying it and converting your car to use it.