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University of Iowa Recognized Among Top Ranking Partners in EPA’s Green Power Partnership

Release Date: 06/05/2012
Contact Information: Chelsey Derks, (913) 551-7240, derks.chelsey@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., June 6, 2012) – EPA’s Green Power Partnership (GPP) has recognized the University of Iowa, at Iowa City, Iowa, as number 17 on its Top 20 On-site Generation list for its generation and use of renewable electricity.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with a variety of organizations, including Fortune 500® companies, agencies at all levels of government, and a growing number of colleges, universities, and schools, to promote the use of green power. EPA defines green power as electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources.

The GPP’s quarterly Top Partner Rankings highlight organizations’ use of green power across various industry sectors. The University of Iowa was cited in the latest quarterly rankings for using biomass (oat hulls) to displace coal in one of its two solid fuel boilers, which significantly reduces its greenhouse gas emissions. The university's Main Power Plant cogenerates nearly nine million kilowatt-hours of electricity from biomass-produced steam, which represents more than three percent of the main campus’s annual electric power consumption.

Using green power helps reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and supports the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide.