The widespread conversion of biomass to fuels is dependent on new biotechnology to produce fuel molecules similar to current petroleum fuels. Many biofuel types are being considered, principally alcohols, esters, ethers, hydrocarbons. In light of accepted drawbacks to fuel ethanol, esters (biodiesel) and hydrocarbons (biopetroleum) are being considered as viable alternative fuels. We recently reported that Vibrio furnissii M1 is not a reliable resource for biopetroleum (Wackett, et al. 2007. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 7192-7198) as had been previously reported. More recent research has focused on the production of hydrocarbons by Micrococcus species. These bacteria produce long-chain alkenes from fatty acid precursors by a still to be determined mechanism. Research is ongoing to investigate the genetic and biochemical basis of hydrocarbon production by this class of bacteria.