The university was nominated for its on-site generation of “green” power. U of I has been reducing emissions by using biomass from oat hulls to create energy. Three percent of the power on the campus is generated by biomass-produced steam, according to a release. 

The university was ranked No. 17 on the list based on 8.7 million kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity produced from biomass annually. 

The Spirit Lake Community School District also received a Green Power Partnership Award for its use of on-site wind power and geothermal heating and cooling system. The district also uses wind turbines as a teaching tool, according to a release.

The No. 1 on-site green energy producer was Kimberly-Clark Corp. (193.3 million kwh); second was Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s California and Texas stores (119.4 million kwh).    

University of Iowa received the award through the Green Power Partnership, an EPA initiative to promote the use of green energy by universities, businesses and other organizations.