Switchgrass, which grows in abundance in Alabama, was identified by President Bush in his State of the Union address as a key to finding suitable alternative fuels.

Auburn University researcher David Bransby (r) has studied switchgrass and its role in producing low-cost alternative fuels for the past 20 years.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) (l) says it's now up to the government to find ways to make switchgrass a viable energy option.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R. Ala.) (l) discusses the energy bill that calls for 7.5 billion tons of ethanol to be produced by 2012.

Switchgrass, resistant to many pests and diseases, can grow to a height of 10 feet or more, producing high yields with little or no fertilizer.

The City of Hoover, Ala., has shown its support for alternative fuels by running its entire fleet of police vehicles on E85.