Expert Says Biodiesel Use To Save Americans Billions Of Dollars, Make Air Clean

Nettleton, MS (AHN) - An alternative fuels and energy specialist says that breaking the country's dependence on Middle Eastern fuel by using biodiesel will save Americans billions of dollars every year aside from making the air clean.

Dr. Richard Craven, spokesperson of Mississippi-based biodiesel manufacturer Universal Bioenergy, said the United States' land transportation alone consume diesel fuel coming from 40 billion gallons of petroleum oil worth $100 billion a year.

But Craven says the U.S. can produce biodiesel as an alternative to diesel and purchasing this locally "can stimulate the economy by keeping our U.S. dollars in U.S. pockets."

Craven says American farmers and cooperatives can utilize formerly unused land for producing biodiesel 'feedstocks' to generate increased revenues for the agricultural industry and its associated service industries.

Craven acknowledges that an increase in the usage of biodiesel would profit Universal Bioenergy. But he points out that its benefits to other companies and industries, as well as to the environment, far outstrip those of the biofuel manufacturers.

He says biodiesel contains no sulfur, "so it reduces acid rain caused by regular diesel exhaust emissions which contain sulfur."

Biodiesel also produces far smaller carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other hydrocarbon emissions. And of course because you're growing more plants from which to manufacture the fuel, there is more vegetation to consume these remaining carbon emissions anyway."