Order Reprints

Biodiesel has become one of the fastest-growing alternative fuels on the market, mostly due to its usefulness as an alternative to petroleum-based diesel.

In recent years, however, the alternative fuels industry has been in turmoil due to difficulties with crop subsidies, a dire economic environment and volatility in the price of feedstock staples often used in biodiesel production, such as soy, corn and canola. As a result, many biodiesel producers were forced into bankruptcy both in Michigan and across the country.

Soy-based biodiesel continues to garner support from Michigan’s agricultural interests, who cite an abundance of soy production and reduced costs in comparison to some other biodiesel sources. Critics of the soy-based fuels point to an overburdening on crop production along with the associated environmental harms.

However, new technologies and innovative companies have expanded the possibilities for biodiesel fuel production to everything from meat waste to cooking oils, giving the industry new hope.

Expect tremendous growth from the biodiesel industry over the next five years, says Scott Erdman, joint founder of the Silver Creek Energy Lab in Whitehall Township, a bioenergy development and production venture.

“We should be able to produce diesel fuel not only from waste, but from algae as well,” he said.

  Order Reprints

TAGS:

• biodiesel
• scott erdman
• whitehall