ARDMORE, OK ― Our dependence on petroleum has been a hot topic across the country for some time now. That could be getting a little help right here in Texoma. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore received a $1.2 million grant to fund biofuel research. Shelby Levins explains how that national grant money is helping out.

Researchers at the Sam Noble Foundation told us this grant money is paving the way for just the beginning of the biofuel story.

Currently, most of our biofuels like ethanol come from corn, but this grant money could help change that.

Scientists at the Sam Noble Foundation say other plants like switch grass can be used to create biofuels, and it could potentially do it better.

Switch grass is native to Oklahoma and is abundant. It also has more material that can be broken down to produce bio fuels.

Biologists are now researching ways to actually improve the plant and the extensive breakdown process. They say then it could help produce those biofuels that may eventually be used as transportation fuels.

"A lot of the goals set by the government are to have 50% of our energy dependence gone by 2030. That would make an enormous impact in everyone’s life, not just here in Oklahoma. But hopefully we can be at the forefront of this research and we can make Oklahoma the shining star when it comes to this field,” plant biologist Dr. Kelly Craven says.

Dr. Craven and two other scientists at the Noble Foundation are splitting the $1.2 million grant. Their research on the project will continue for the next 4 to 5 years.