For more information contact:
Ms. Kanan Kappelman
Phone: 515.348.6248
Email: communications@iowaeda.com
October 3, 2023 (Des Moines, IA) – Today, the Iowa Energy Center (IEC) Board awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants to six projects through the IEC Grant Program. The competitive funding opportunity enables eligible applicants to pursue projects that align with one of the key focus areas of the Iowa Energy Plan and provide a benefit to Iowa ratepayers. The program is funded by gas and electric utilities across the state.
The IEC Grant Program received 34 pre-applications totaling nearly $10 million in funding requests. Eleven projects, requesting over $2.5 million, completed a full application. An IEC Board committee reviewed and scored applications based on alignment with the Iowa Energy Plan, the ratepayer benefit, project goals, programmatic capabilities and collaboration efforts, among other criteria.
The IEC is managed by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and overseen by a governor-appointed board comprised of representatives from academia, state government and utilities.
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IEC Grant Program recipients and awards, approved on October 3, 2023:
| Organization | Project Name | Grant Award |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | A Low Cost, Bio-inspired Hydroelectric System for Utilizing Untapped Riverine Hydropower in Iowa | $201,916 |
| University of Iowa | Development of Functionalized Nanocomposite Membranes for the Selective, High-Capacity Recovery of Critical Materials for a Clean Energy Transition | $315,133 |
| Iowa State University | 3D Bioprinting of Microbial Biofilms for Gas Pipeline Corrosion Prevention | $300,000 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Resilient Iowa Communities Rural Support | $176,358 |
| Iowa State University | Modernization of Protection and Stability Techniques for 100% Clean Electricity | $300,000 |
| Iowa State University | AI-guided Lignin Valorization to Make Bio-based Batteries Through Interfacial Engineering for Waste-to-Wealth Conversion | $290,000 |
| Total IEC Grant Awards | $1,583,407 |