Comment this isn't a new idea. (Score 3, Informative) 46
This was the argument about biofuels 20 years ago. They require energy to make. Just like any other fuel we burn. Refining oil into fuel requires a lot of energy. If we focused on using byproducts from other industries to make biofuels, that might make sense.
I put e85 into my vehicle if it's cheap. My mileage suffers. There hasn't really been a move to use biofuels anywhere but on vehicles. I had hoped ethanol might be an option for small engines like lawnmowers. Ethanol burns cleaner, which would be a good move. 80% of my landscaping equipment is battery powered. All that is left is my snowblower, and if the trend continues, I won't need it much longer. We only had one significant snowfall last winter in south central Wisconsin.