How about switchgrass and waste wood?
I’m not as familiar with that. I would assume it produce more fuel (than other methods...other than algae). I’m not sure of the enviromental effects of such. Probably not much. Although ethanol fuels would require changes in infrastructure. Biodiesels would be less of head-ache, because much of the structure already exists.
My preferences are with algae, because it can be produced in deserts, and it can combine with coal power plants ie it can siphone off a sigificant amount of carbon from them. It’s a ‘food’. It can also use waste as food....so it’s an all around way of producing fuel. Cost seems to be the only real big issue.
Oh, and theoretically it can produce higher yields than any other biomass. I guess theory and practice are two different things.
There are many reasons,....