In 2006, more than 5 billion gallons of fuel ethanol and 250 million gallons of biodiesel were produced in the U.S.
About 90% of the fuel ethanol is produced by corn, with grain sorghum being the second major feedstock source. Ethanol production from sucrose (table sugar), while not practiced in the U.S., predominates in tropical regions with sugarcane production such as Brazil.
Analysts generally agree that the ability to significantly increase ethanol production using corn grain is limited and that large increases will require the use of lignocellulose resources such as agricultural residues, grasses, and wood. This technology is only beginning to be commercialized.
Soybean oil is the primary resource used to produce biodiesel, but other virgin vegetable oils (e.g., Canola, castor, peanut, palm, rapeseed, sunflower) and greases and recycled oils (e.g., tallow, yellow grease, trap grease) can also be used.