Biodiesel: Good Idea or Pipe Dream?

Recently listening to NPR's "Story of the Day" I came across a podcast concerning biodiesel. The main thrust of the article was about a Texas truck stop that was going out of business. Before closing the owner was contacted by Willie Nelson who suggested that he convert the a pump to biodiesel. Long story short, ALL the pumps were converted and the result was a success story. Seemingly, the topic of biodiesel has become a popular topic among the country's truckers who's main motivation for buying biodiesel is to "decrease America's reliance on foreign oil." Another interviewee mentioned that were american truckers to get behind biodiesel in a big way, the country's soccer moms would not be far behind. The environmental benefits of biodiesel are significant. For one, biodiesel produces 50% less carbon monoxide and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 78%. Additionally, biodiesel produces 20% less particulate emissions. On the economic side the ease of manufacture (you can make it in your own home) from recycled "waste" oil, such as grease traps from restaurants, have given rise to a growing cottage industry. So why not convert to biodiesel? In a word: efficiency. Reports done by governmental and private researchers have show that the energy inputs required to process the base plant oils is still too high to justify a full scale conversion. Like most renewable energy resources the process is still too inefficient. Perhaps more importantly, is the issue of land use. Considering traditional plant sources, studies have shown that the United States does not have enough arable land to fuel the nations vehicles. Similarly, plans to increase biodiesel production in the Phillipines and Indonesia will lead to the deforestation of tens of millions of acres. Still, other research, especially with certain forms of algae which produce a much higher oil yeild, are promising in this regard. Finally, the prolifieration of "homegrown" biodiesel production flies in the face of the conventional assumption that large economies-of-scale are more profitable and efficient by keeping revenues and resouces local, reducing environmental impact, and, reducing waste. Clearly, biodiesel has a future, just how big a future is another question.