Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease. It is a clean-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel and can be used in conventional diesel engines, directly substituting for or extending supplies of traditional petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is used as a transportation fuel, but it may also be used for heating and electricity generation. Here are some of the common uses of biodiesel:

• Transportation: Biodiesel is used as a vehicle fuel and can be used in diesel engines in its pure form (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel. It is commonly used in heavy-duty vehicles, especially transit buses in US cities.

• Agriculture machinery: Biodiesel can be used to run agriculture machinery.

• Generators, heating, and lighting equipment: Biodiesel can be used to power generators, heating, and lighting equipment. It can be used as an additive or as a replacement fuel in furnaces and boilers.

• Marine vessels: Biodiesel fuels are approved for use in marine vessels, especially since they are miscible with marine distillate fuels.

• Cooking: Biodiesel can be used for cooking as a source of heat for stoves and other fires in the kitchen, but it can’t be used in food.

Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, reduces transportation energy costs for businesses and consumers, and 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.