Environment & Energy

Biodiesel Benefits and Considerations
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel improves public health and the environment, provides safety benefits, and contributes to a resilient transportation system.

Public Health and the Environment
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. A successful transition to clean transportation will require various vehicle and fuel solutions and must consider life cycle emissions. Engines manufactured in 2010 and later must meet the same emissions standards, whether running on biodiesel, diesel, or any alternative fuel. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology in diesel vehicles, which reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to near-zero levels, makes this possible. The criteria air pollutant emissions from engines using diesel fuel are comparable to those from biodiesel blends.

Using biodiesel reduces life cycle emissions because carbon dioxide released from biodiesel combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed from growing soybeans or other feedstocks used to produce the fuel. Life cycle analysis completed by Argonne National Laboratory (PDF) found that B100 use reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 74% compared with petroleum diesel. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reported similar values (PDF) from various sources for its life cycle analysis of biodiesel.

Air quality benefits of biodiesel are roughly commensurate with the amount of biodiesel in the blend. Learn more about biodiesel emissions.

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