What if the Exxon Valdez had carried biodiesel or ethanol instead of crude oil?
The environmental damage caused by petroleum spills is obvious. While a spill of any fuel has negative effects, a release of ethanol or biodiesel is minor in comparison. Biofuels are biodegradable and can be much less of a threat to ground and surface waters. Although ethanol and biodiesel can be transported over long distances like other fuels and products, most biofuels are used closer to home than petroleum that is often transported across the globe. Using renewable-based fuels closer to the point of production means a shorter supply chain and reduced security risk of accidental release or malicious attack. Sinking of the Bow Mariner: After the tragic sinking of the Bow Mariner off the coast of Virginia in 2004, U.S. Coast Guard officials noted the ship’s cargo of 3.2 million gallons of ethanol had “dissipated quickly and did not pose a danger to humans or marine life.
