The University of Iowa is approaching its 2020 sustainability goals, one acre at a time. The UI Sustainability Office is moving forward to have 40% of burned fuels be renewable.

The university planted 16 acres of miscanthus, a plant used for fuel, in 2013 and plans to grow an additional 13 acres this year. In 2015 the university is planning to increase the area to 2,500 acres.

The UI Power Plant burns both coal and mixtures of grass, oat hulls, and woodchips to create energy.