The Cost and Benefits of Biofuels: A Review of Recent Peer-Reviewed Research and a Sociological Look Ahead

This article reviews scientific, peer-reviewed literature on the costs and benefits of biofuels. Four peer-reviewed journals-Science, Natural Resources Research, Renewable Energy, and Journal of Cleaner Production-were searched for articles from the years 2006 through 2008 that evaluated some aspect of this fuel. The articles identified through this search were then assessed collectively. Non-foodstock biofuels were reported as having the fewest costs associated with their production and use. The article concludes on a sociological note, with a speculative look ahead. Drawing upon the concept of path dependency, the discussion turns briefly to society's ability (or perhaps lack thereof) to switch over to these so-called second-generation biofuels.