With summer on here, oil prices might soar again, and many people cannot afford the increase given the country's recent economic crisis.  During these economic slowdowns, the trend is more interest paid on the cheapest fuels, instead of alternatives.  

So when are Americans going to see some sort alternative fuel source that might be more economical? UT biofuels researchers may have the answer.

"There are 26 public biodiesel stations in East Tennessee and already two E85 stations in Knoxville, and there are plans for many more," UT professor and biofuel researcher Scott Curran said.

Biodiesel stations provide non-petroleum based diesel fuels, and E85 is the alternative fuel they provide that contains a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

Curran says this is just the start to alternative fuels and will provoke others to follow suit. UT is known as one of the leaders in biofuel research, and the university has spent a lot of time and money on it.

Researchers are working with switch grass, one of the largest projects of its kind in the world. UT student Josh Baker was one of the first students to be involved in the program for biofuels and biodiesel research during Fall 2008.

"Switch grass is grown and harvested for ethanol, and I find it to be a likely source for ethanol production, if that is the route we go here in the future," Baker said.

Ethanol is most likely the next fuel to be used for vehicles and ican be made and mass-produced by switchgrass. However, there are a wide variety of ideas for fuel sources.

Curran said biomass continues to be a strong feedstock for alternative fuels because it can be produced from any plant oil or animal fat.  In the United States soybeans are the most dominant feedstock for biodiesel, but more and more waste streams such as used frying oil and rendered chicken fat are being used.

"For ethanol, the primary feedstock is still corn but many other new sources are emerging for both traditional ethanol production and cellulistic ethanol production," Curran said.

Curran also said using an alternative fuel would actually benefit the economy in the long run.

"The reduction of petroleum fuels will not only reduce the amount of money sent to other countries, but the use of domestically produced renewables will help the U.S. economy," Curran said.