You’ve surely heard all the talk about the booming U.S. renewable diesel market and how it will be like what the ethanol boom was for corn prices in the late 2000s. While there is a possibility this happens, it is far from a sure thing.

First, let’s talk about what renewable diesel is. Renewable diesel is a clean fuel made from waste fats and vegetable oils, namely soybean oil. It is chemically indistinguishable from traditional petroleum diesel, making it a “drop-in” fuel or a direct alternative.

Biodiesel, while made from the same main feedstock of soybean oil, is chemically different from renewable diesel. It’s basically created by the same process used to make polyester fiber, meaning it must be blended off in order to be a fuel substitute. Renewable diesel and biodiesel aren't the same...