Iowa’s three regent universities were awarded a $20 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation to build Iowa’s research capacity in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

According to a news release, the research program’s vision is to establish Iowa as a leader in worldwide transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

The project will be built on four platforms: bioenergy, wind energy, energy utilization and energy policy, according to the release.

In the release, Sharron Quisenberry, vice president for research and economic development at Iowa State, said, “This investment in Iowa by the National Science Foundation will position our state as a research technology leader in renewable energy.”

Sen. Tom Harkin sent a news release congratulating the universities on the grant.

“Each dollar invested in renewable energy and energy-efficiency research is a win-win for our state, creating jobs and allowing our state to continue to be a leader in this field,” he said.