I know because most of them end up in my in box. I have one of those Internet search engines set with the key word bio-energy. That means 24/7 a computer searches the world for anything written or broadcast about bio-energy.

The volume is astounding enough, but the content is even more amazing.

There are scholarly papers, popular science articles, policy discussions, and incoherent ramblings. What is clear is that there is a lot being written and said about the subject; what is not clear is what the heck is really going on.

For the vast majority of Americans, ethanol is gasoline made from corn. While this is a gross oversimplification, it is about as technical as most motorists want to get.

What they want to know is: how much does it cost, what kind of mileage does it get, and where can I buy it. While most Americans are in favor of less imported oil, exactly how this whole renewable energy thing works is still a mystery.

The plethora of claims, counterclaims, and new discoveries is only adding to the confusion.

A recent headline in the business section of the Indianapolis Star read, “Today’s oil men seek new fuel: chicken fat.” The article told of two men in Dexter, Mo. who are building a biodiesel plant to produce renewable fuel from chicken fat. It turns out that a near by Tyson Chicken plant will provide the raw material.

This is just one small plant that is experimenting with animal byproducts to produce an energy source. Several livestock operations in Indiana and Illinois are using animal manure to produce fuel and electricity. Many of these claim to be the next big breakthrough.

In reality, the future of the bio-energy sector will consist of a variety of energy sources, both plant and animal. There is no one source that will be the key to breaking our oil addiction.

My concern is that the mixed messages we are sending to consumers will be misinterpreted.

With each sector of the industry crying to attention in order to get research funding or government subsidies, we run the risk of undercutting the credibility of our product.

Let us stress how our energy future will depend on a variety of sources, plant, animal, and environmental. We should stress the renewability of these resources and that they are produced right here at home.

Technology and the marketplace will sort out which mix of energy sources survives and thrives. The key is to cultivate and maintain public support for renewable fuels and for a reduction of dependence on fossil fuels.