Attention: TDR Forum Junkies DieselMinded said:
I think you're looking at this from a small box perspective, and have a few things off.
First of all - using biodiesel supports AMERICAN farmers, which is better than OPEC and the middle east. Would you rather send it to the middle east just because it's not going to your LOCAL farmer?
Secondly it's renewable, not using finite natural resources. Everyone here is so quick to throw out the term tree-hugger, but then they are denial when someone tells them the reality of the situation is that our EARTH will run out of resources to make dino gas/diesel within 20-25 years. . Everyone thinks the problems will only occur long after they're dead... well surprise they are coming sooner than you may think. Don't quote me on the timeframe but the point is the same - it's something WE need to address.
Lastly, IMO biodiesel is NOT LESS of a fuel. While it may have slightly less BTU, in typical blends of b20, this is not much of a mpg/power factor at all. However, your fuel's detergency, cetane, emissions reduction,lubricity, and toxicity are improved greatly. Clearly the infrastructure to mass produce biodiesel at the same efficiency as petrodiesel is not intact - which would get prices down. I'd say though in a direct comparison biodiesel is a BETTER fuel, and is justifiably a bit higher priced.
