As global dependence on fossil fuels is increasingly called into question, many nations, organizations, and individuals are exploring the use of biodiesel, a renewable fuel derived from vegetable oils (or animal fat), as an alternative power source. The first website presents (1) Biodiesel America, "a campaign whose mission is to change 100,000 diesel school busses to biodiesel by 2010." Biodiesel America has an educational mission, and its website offers a Biodiesel 101 section, as well as sections for biodiesel resources, news, online discussion forums, and more. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) (2) represents "the biodiesel industry as the coordinating body for research and development in the United States." The NBB site offers a database full of downloadable reports, buyer's information, biodiesel news, market information, and a variety of other resources. The nonprofit Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) (3) works "to promote renewable fuels for automotive transportation and government liaison activities." In addition to information about biodiesel and ethanol, the CRFA website contains several downloadable newsletters, and a collection of related links. The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) (4), also a nonprofit organization, works to promote biodiesel use in the European Union (EU). The EBB website offers downloadable articles regarding biodiesel in the EU, downloadable reports from EU member states, a list of upcoming events, an EBB email information service, and basic statistical tables representing biodiesel production by country. The Biodiesel Association of Australia (BAA) (5) "was founded in late 2000 to ensure that the biodiesel industry is established and flourishes in Australia." The BAA website contains basic, concise information about biodiesel; links to related news articles; downloadable BAA newsletters and biodiesel-related documents; an online discussion forum; and a collection of related links. From the U.S. Department of Energy, the sixth (6) website presents information about the Biomass Program, whose mission is to work with U.S. industry to transform "abundant biomass resources into clean, affordable, and domestically produced biofuels, biopower, and high-value bioproducts." The final website (7) presents the Earthrace, a fantastic plan aimed at raising awareness about biodiesel by breaking "the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat." Powered by biodiesel, it is hoped that the Earthrace vessel will be able to travel approximately 24,000 nautical miles in fewer than 65 days.
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