Ethanol yields 25% more energy
than the energy invested in its production, whereas biodiesel yields 93% more. Compared with ethanol, biodiesel releases just
1.0%, 8.3%, and 13% of the agricultural nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticide pollutants, respectively, per net energy gain.
Relative to the fossil fuels they displace, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12% by the production and combustion of ethanol
and 41% by biodiesel. Biodiesel also releases less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol.