The UW-Madison Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center—one of three new research centers announced by the U.S. Department of Energy earlier this year—received $6.67 million in funding Friday.

This initial funding is provided for scientists to get a jump start on discovering new plant-derived energy sources.

The grant is the first portion of an estimated $125 million GLBRC will receive from DOE over the next five years—one of the largest research grants in university history.

In recognition of the partnership between UW-Madison and Michigan State University in making the Madison-based DOE GLBRC possible, researchers from both universities, along with Chancellor John Wiley, were introduced to Badger fans during the football game Saturday against the Spartans.

UW-Madison and MSU will work with nearly 60 researchers at multiple institutions, including the Middleton-based biotechnology firm Lucigen and DOE’s Pacific Northwest and Oak Ridge National laboratories.

Scientists plan to use the funds to find ways to convert cellulose, a non-edible material in plants, into cost-efficient biofuels to be used as alternative energy sources.

“Through world-leading research in bioenergy, Wisconsin will seize today’s challenges, and turn them into tomorrow’s opportunity,” Gov. Jim Doyle said in a statement.

“This center will be the centerpiece of our state’s efforts to lead the country toward energy independence and will be an economic engine that will translate new discoveries into high-paying jobs.”