About biofuels

 

From the farm to fuel

Biofuels are renewable sources of energy obtained from recently harvested plant materials, and they are at the forefront in the discussion of alternative energy sources. Currently our nation relies mainly on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable energy sources that take millions of years to form and release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. There are various new biofuel options in addition to corn and soybeans which are being researched in each region of the country (find which are being researched in your region on the map to the right). In each state, land-grant colleges and universities and the Cooperative Extension System are helping youth learn about the wide variety of possible ingredients to expand the types of biofuels available now and in the future. Learn more about biofuels and biofuel research.

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Become a scientist for the day

Discover how cellulose and sugars in plants can be used to create the biofuel ethanol in the 2009 4-H NYSD experiment. Also learn how that fuel can be used to power cars, heat homes and provide energy for many of the things we use each day. Biofuel research has sparked debate on many issues like the “food vs. fuel” debate, carbon emission levels, deforestation, and the impact on water resources. See what scientists nationwide are saying on the Join the Discussion page.

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The 2009 Experiment was designed in conjunction with the
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H.

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Did You Know?

  • Fossil fuels are depleted at a rate that is 100,000 times faster than they are formed.


  • In 1908, Henry Ford produced the Model T as a flexible fuel vehicle. It could run on ethanol, gasoline, or a combination of the two.


  • The Energy Policy Act of 2005 ensured that gasoline contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel.


  • Today, roughly half of the gasoline sold in the United States includes 5–10% ethanol.


  • There are almost 8 million flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) on U.S. roads today, but many FFV owners don't know their vehicle is one.


  • Since 2007, the Department of Energy has announced over $1 billion in multi-year biofuels research and development projects.


  • A high-protein animal feed, known as Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), is produced in the process of making ethanol from corn.