From the National Biodiesel Board: " Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics."
Check out my dream machine: The VW Golf GLS TDI 4 door. This wonderful vehicle will get 50mpg+ while using a domestic, renewable fuel that burns much clearner than gasoline. No modifications have to be made to this car to be able to use biodiesel, and you can switch back to, or mix in, petroleum diesel at any time. If you have a long commute (and even if you don't), this vehicle is a very sensible choice. It's also seriously fun to drive! (This is a photo pre-enactment - I don't have one...yet)
If you'd like to know more, her is some light reading:
Visit the National Biodiesel Board (link)
See the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) biodiesel publications page here (link)
Visit the Wikipedia page (link)
Visit BiodieselNow (link)
Read this excellent review paper on biodiesel from algae (pdf)
Another NREL report: A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae (pdf)
And, now that you know the facts, go buy yourself a diesel and fill 'er up with some local fuel!
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