DES MOINES - Gov. Chet Culver handed out awards Wednesday to 15 Iowa firms and entities that have shown environmental leadership with their practices.

The Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards go to companies and organizations that that have gone "above and beyond" to protect the environment.

"These award winners have proven that the economy and the environment can go hand in hand, and that the opportunities for our state are only enhanced, not limited, when we consider natural resources in our decisions," Culver said.

A panel of 24 judges considered close to 40 applications for the awards. Culver said the winners are sending a message that smart, green growth will benefit Iowa's economy.

Among the award winners were the following:

• Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center, on the University of Northern Iowa campus, Cedar Falls, special recognition in environmental education. The center started the "Get Your Green On" program at Lincoln Elementary in Cedar Falls, the only one of its kind in Iowa. The program encouraged students to reduce, reuse and recycle and taught them about conservation and natural resources.
• MidAmerican Energy Co., environmental excellence. The company has invested $2.2 billion in more than 800 wind turbines in Iowa. MidAmerican worked with landowners to minimize the impacts on farming operations and worked to avoid impacting habitats. It also built a wind turbine on the Iowa State Fairgrounds with a visitors' center under construction.