Situated at the intersection of water, energy, and agriculture issues in the Midwest is the rapidly growing field of biofuels. Interest in biofuels has surged along with the call for independence from Middle East oil. Depending on how biofuels are developed and which energy sources are used to manufacture them, growth in this area could bring environmental, economic, and community benefits—or it could place many systems, including freshwater ecosystems, at significant risk. Government policies, private-sector investment, and research priorities are already influencing the development of biofuel industries, and foundations are beginning to identify ways to foster this new energy industry in sustainable ways.