The Washington Post highlighted the University of Iowa and its biomass program in a recent article about climate-friendly colleges. The University of Iowa became a green-energy champion in harvesting biomass energy by using resources in its backyard — the oats facility is just 25 miles away. Biomass energy is generated by burning living or once-living organisms to create heat or electricity: Think of wood, corn or soy.  The University of Iowa is featured alongside Ohio University, Ball State University, University of Minnesota, and Arizona State University.