We are an oil-dependent society. Everything from the vehicles driven to the electricity used requires oil to operate. However, this is becoming a major problem due to the decreasing amount of fossil fuels available worldwide. The solution to this problem lies in alternative fuel sources. Alternative fuel sources can be obtained from a variety of energy sources, including those derived from biomass, various liquid fuels, and even solar energy (The New Book). Researchers at the Department of Energy, or DOE for short, are searching for alternative sources of fuel. Many solutions involve the use of biomass (The New Book). Biomass is created when plants, trash, or other natural waste are chemically modified through a process called fermentation (The New Book). During the fermentation process, bacteria are used to convert natural waste into various gases and liquid fuels (The New Book). There are many popular liquid fuels obtained by this process. Two such fuels are ethanol and methanol (The New Book). Ethanol is the best known and most used liquid fuel produced during fermentation (The New Book). Ethanol is a renewable fuel produced from plants such as corn, sugar cane and many types of grasses (alternative fuels). The Energy Information Administration said: "Ethanol consumption in the United States has increased significantly, from about 1.7 billion gallons in 2001 to about 12.9 billion in 2012." Ethanol comes in the form of three mixtures, or mixtures of gasoline and ethanol. The first two blends, the most commonly used, are E10 and E15 (alternative fuels). The number represents the percentage of ethanol in the mixture. E10 would contain 10% ethanol and 90%...... middle of paper...... fuels like petroleum and gasoline. In order to put the United States on track to becoming energy independent, the use of alternative fuels must be increased. With alternative biomass-derived fuels like ethanol and methanol and other sources like electricity and solar power, the United States should be off to a good start toward achieving the goal of energy independence. The future of fuel lies in clean, energy-efficient alternative fuels. Works Cited Allen, Mike. Analyze the numbers on alternative fuels. Popular mechanics. 2014. Web April 30, 2014. Alternative fuels. Fuel economy. May 2, 2014. the web. April 30, 2014. Fuels and vehicles. AFDC. March 6, 2014. the web. April 30, 2014. Sofge, Erik. The energy solution. Popular science. June 2013. Print. The New Popular Science Book of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. Philippines: Grolier Incorporated, 1979. Print.