Alternative transportation fuels: issues and developments

The sharp increase in petroleum prices beginning in mid-1999 and experiences with tighter supply, has renewed concern about our dependence on petroleum imports. One of the strategies for reducing this dependence is to provide vehicles that run on alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel. These alternatives include alcohols, gaseous fuels, renewable fuels electricity and fuels derived from coal. The push to develop alternative fuels, although driven by energy security concerns, has been aided by concerns over the environment, because many alternative fuels lead to reduction in emissions of toxic chemicals, ozone-forming compounds and other pollutants, as well as the greenhouse effect. This new book explores the energy and environmental issues, and how they affect the regulatory attempts with regard to transportation fuels. Also, the tax treatment of alternative transportation is analysed.