As petroleum demand and prices increase, so increases the importance of alternative fuels.

Alternative fuels can be produced domestically, reducing our dependence on imported oil. They are beneficial to our health and environment by reducing harmful air emissions and strengthen our agricultural sector and local economies.

Under the U.S. Energy Policy Act, the Environmental Protection Agency defines alternative fuels for transportation as:

• Biofuels (fuels, other than alcohols, derived from biological materials)
• Denatured Ethanol
• Methanol, and other alcohols
• Blends containing 85% or more by volume of Methanol, denatured Ethanol, and other alcohols; the remainder volume is gasoline or other fuels
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also called propane
• Hydrogen
• Electricity
• Coal-derived liquid fuels
• P-series (a blend of natural gas liquids, ethanol, and biomass-derived MeTHF)
• Other fuels determined to be 'substantially not petroleum' and yielding 'substantial energy security benefits and environmental benefits'.

To increase the benefits associated with alternative fuels, we must combine their use with:

• Better driving practices
• Fuel saving technologies
• More efficient vehicles.

Q:	I thought using alternative fuels meant lower gas mileage; how do alternative fuels really compare to gasoline and diesel?
A:	The common method to understanding the amount of energy in different fuels is by comparing a unit of fuel with a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline by using a Gasoline Gallon Equivalent table. For example, if you can drive 25 miles on 1 gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, you would need to burn 1.5 gallons of E85 to go the same distance.

Fuel Type	Unit of Measure	BTUs per Unit	Gallon Equivalent
Gasoline (regular unleaded)	Gallon	114,100	1.00 gallon
Gasoline (reformulated, 10% MTBE)	Gallon	112,000	1.02 gallons
Diesel (#2)	Gallon	129,800	0.88 gallons
Biodiesel (B100)	Gallon	118,300	0.96 gallons
Biodiesel (B20)	Gallon	129,500	0.88 gallons
Ethanol (E100)	Gallon	76,100	1.50 gallons
Ethanol (E85)	Gallon	81,800	1.40 gallons
Methanol (M100)	Gallon	56,800	2.01 gallons
Methanol (M85)	Gallon	65,400	1.74 gallons
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)	Gallon	75,000	1.52 gallons
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)	Cubic Foot	900	126.67 cu. ft.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (propane)	Gallon	84,300	1.35 gallons
Electricity	Kilowatt hour	3,400	33.53 kwhrs

Source: National Association of Fleet Administrators, Inc.