WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. Department of Transportation

In announcing the grant, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says the money will help the university's Multimodal Facility use alternative energy sources to power the building.

According to the Transportation Department, Northern Iowa will use the money to help install solar panels at the Multimodal Facility to provide the total amount of electricity required by the facility.

The panels will be connected to the campus power grid so that electricity generated during the day can be used at night. Metering will be installed to ensure the facility is credited for the energy generated.