As Oklahoma continues to develop its alternative fuel industry, Gov. Brad Henry will host GROW: The Oklahoma Biofuels Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Skirvin Hotel conference center in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma has emerged as a national leader in the development and deployment of biofuels through the efforts of public and private research organizations, investment groups and the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center (OBC), which brings together Oklahoma's comprehensive higher education institutions - the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU) - with the world-class plant and agricultural research of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to initiate a biofuels industry within the state.

The OBC recently planted 1,000 acres of switchgrass in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The 1,000 acres represent the world's largest single site devoted to cellulosic ethanol production. Made from plants such as switchgrass and sorghum, cellulosic ethanol is the next generation of biofuels and promises to be a vital piece in the puzzle to help solve our nation's transportation fuel crisis.

The 2008 Oklahoma Biofuels Conference will focus on many topics related to Oklahoma's efforts to establish a productive biofuels industry including:

• New and proposed initiatives and funding for bioenergy research, including the 2008 Farm Bill.
• Second generation feedstocks.
• Discussion on the food-versus-fuel debate.
• Biorefinery construction (the players, plans and progress).
• Biofuel impacts for end users.
• Carbon control policies that may offer income potential for producers.
• Energy sustainability.
• Advances in feedstock conversion technology.

The conference is open to the public and registration is $60. For additional information, a complete list of speakers or registration, visit www.GrowOK.com or call 1-800-203-5494. The Oklahoma Biofuels Conference is presented by the Office of the Secretary of Energy, State of Oklahoma, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Secretary of Environment, State of Oklahoma, and the OBC.

08-045

###

News Release Issued: October 29, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.