This site is dedicated to informing people about biodiesel and allowing them to show their support by purchasing t-shirts or bumper stickers for a minimal amount. A percentage of the profits will go to the National Biodiesel Board to help fund their research. The t-shirt is available in youth sizes s-xl and the adult sizes are available in s-xxl. The t-shirt will be available in green with yellow lettering and both the t-shirt and bumpersticker will both say Save A Country, Ride With Biodiesel Please indicate what size and quantity you would like. Shirts are $10! If you would like to know more about biodiesel continue scrolling down for some educational materials.
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Educational Information
Background
In 1900, when Rudolf Diesel created the engine that bears his name, he intended for it to be run on an alternative fuel made of peanut oil so it would be affordable for small farmers and craftsmen (Hunt 1). The vegetable oils were unfortunately too expensive to compete with petroleum- running engines, so the diesel engine was fueled by petroleum- based diesel (Hayhurst 31). It wasn’t until much later that large oil embargoes of 1973 and 1979 caused people to look for alternative ways to fuel their vehicles (Yacobucci 1). For many, the answer was biodiesel. Biodiesel was the perfect alternative because in addition to decreasing air pollution, it was renewable and easily produced. Today, the United States government spends over $50 billion on foreign oil. If the decision were made to cease dependency on foreign oil and give half of it to American farmers, it would help the U.S. economy greatly (Hayhurst 44). ).
General Information Although biodiesel can help our economy and reduce many harmful pollutants, many people think that it is not the right alternative for the United States. Some of the drawbacks people have are its lack of abundance, the mileage it gets is less than petroleum-based diesel and it does not reduce as much carbon dioxide as people think, though it keeps the levels constant (Hayhurst 47). Also, many people are unsure about biodiesel because they don’t know what the long-term effects and short term effects of it are on the environment and the cars’ engines. Even though there are a few minor drawbacks to biodiesel, producing biodiesel and using it would benefit our country both economically and from a health perspective. It would save an exorbitant amount of money being spent on foreign oil, and reduce, if not completely eliminate cancer- causing emissions of petroleum-based fuel (Hunt 6). Biodiesel could also lead to more energy security and sustainability by the United States not having to rely on other countries for petroleum-gas (Hunt 1). Overall, even though petroleum-based diesel is a norm today, and it is currently less expensive, biodiesel is an alternative because it creates energy independence and security, it promotes a better economy by saving the U.S. money that would normally be spent on foreign oil, and biodiesel is a much healthier alternative for humans and their environment.
Whats Going on With Biodiesel Today The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 called for the use of oxygenated or reformulated gasoline (fuel additives that contain oxygen and boost gasoline’s octane quality (Gustafson 1).) because many citizens were becoming concerned with the pollutants (Something that creates harmful waste (Hayhurst 57).) being pumped into the air by our car emissions (Substances discharged into the air (Hayhurst 56).). Once more research had been done; people realized that the emissions were a possible root cause of global warming (The rise in temperature of the earth due to a combination of natural and unnatural causes (Hayhurst 57).). Again, biodiesel was called on and it was supported by the government, who was encouraging the use of biodiesel by giving federal tax incentives (Yacobucci 1). In 2005, the Energy Policy Act established a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) which mandated the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels in gasoline (Yacobucci 1). As well as mandating renewable fuels in gasoline, the RFS would increase biodiesel consumption by 7.5 gallons each year until 2012 (Yacobucci, i). In 2000, the same year the U.S. Department of Energy reported that only 5 million gallons of biodiesel had been produced, biodiesel met the standards of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Hayhurst 37). More recently, in 2003, a bill was introduced that would renew fuel standards and implement cost incentives for the production of 36 million gallons of biodiesel (“Biodiesel Myths” par. 11). . What You Can Do To Help Biodiesel needs all the supporters it can get. There are many things that you can do to help out and show uour support. Here are some ideas to get you started: Why I Chose To Take My Stance On Biodiesel The reason I chose to support biodiesel by making shirts and bumper stickers was so money could be donated to a worthy cause and because this is a critical issue for our future global health and economy now and for generations to come. Because biodiesel still needs some fine tuning to make it the perfect "future fuel" for the US it needs a little extra funding. Instead of taking the money from taxes, why not donate money willingly?
Sources
Gustafson, Kurt. "State Winter Oxygenated Fuel Program Requirements for Attainment or Maintenance of CO NAAQS." EPA Newsroom. 6 Mar. 2006. Environmental Protection Agency. 16 Nov. 2006 http://www.epa.gov/oms/oxygenate.htm.
Hayhurst, Chris. Biofuel Power of the Future. New York: The Rosen Group, 2003.
Hunt, Ed. "Better by Biodiesel?" Tide Pool. 9 Oct. 2003. Tide Pool. 25 Sept. 2006 http://www.tidepool.org/findings/hpbiodiesel.cfm.
Yacobucci, Brent D. United States. Cong. Fuel Ethanol: Background and Public Policy Issues. 3 Mar. 2006. 15 Sept. 2006 http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL33290.pdf#search=%22Fuel%20Ethanol%3A%20%20Background%20and%20Public%20Policy%20Issues%20RL33290%22.