A number of grants have been issued by U.S. federal and state government agencies to encourage the use of biodiesel fuel. Such grants have been received by educational programs for promoting the implementation of biodiesel and projects for distributing or producing this type of fuel.

Government agencies which have issued biodiesel grants include the U.S. Department of Energy, the Dept. of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth, and the Ohio Dept. of Development. According to epa.gov, the EPA issued a $75,000 grant to organizations in California so that a project to convert waste vegetable oil from restaurants into biodiesel could be carried out. Another report, on energy.gov, indicates that the governor of Kentucky’s Office of Energy Policy awarded a $25,000 grant in April 2007 to two suppliers, both conducting projects to store and distribute this type of fuel.

There are many other examples of such grants being issued by the government. As reported by michigan.gov, the state government provided a grant of $24,500 to the Capital Area Producers Cooperative in 2004, to be used toward the purchase of two tanker trucks intended for the transport of biodiesel to farms in the area. A news story on deltafarmpress.com states that the USDA released grants totaling $960,000 to organizations involved in educating businesses and government agencies which possess fleets of vehicles, as well as the public in general.

The provision of such grants is sure to assist organizations, businesses, and local government facilities in the expansion of biodiesel usage, thus helping to improve environmental conditions, increase fuel efficiency, and eliminate waste.  Check out www.gaswatch.info for more information on alternative fuels, and to monitor fuel prices in your area.

The use of alternative fuels, such as natural gas, biodiesel, and propane, to power automobiles and other equipment can help the environment by reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. Domestically-produced alternative fuels also do not generate pollution involved in transporting fuel from other countries.

Biodiesel, which can be produced using some types of restaurant waste and other materials, is one of the more well-known alternative fuels for powering automobiles. According to fueleconomy.gov, it is non-toxic, biodegradable, and affects the environment less than regular diesel when burned. It does have slightly lower fuel efficiency than normal diesel, but most diesel passenger vehicles are more fuel efficient than equivalent gasoline models.

Propane is another option among the alternative fuels which can be used in vehicles. The Department of Energy (energy.gov) website indicates that approximately two-hundred thousand vehicles in the U.S. run on propane, it has less impact on the environment than gasoline, and most of it is produced in the United States. However, fueleconomy.gov doesn’t list any propane vehicles made after the year 2004, when two Ford F-150 propane truck models were available.

Another option is natural gas; fueleconomy.gov indicates that vehicles are available which run on natural gas exclusively, while others can run on either natural gas or another fuel. It states that only one new natural gas vehicle is currently available in the United States (the Honda GX CNG), but natural gas generates less pollution than gasoline and most of it is produced domestically, which will also help reduce harm to the environment.

Overall, all three above-mentioned alternative fuels help protect the environment, although their cost and other characteristics vary. Vehicles capable of running on biodiesel are the most commonly available of the three types.  Check out www.Gaswatch.info for more information and to monitor feul prices in your area!

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