SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the city of San Diego for generating and using so-called "green power" at its facilities, it was announced Tuesday.

The city was ranked third on the EPA's list of the top 20 on-site generator/consumers through its Green Power Partnership Program, according to Mayor Jerry Sanders' office.

Placing higher than San Diego was the Kimberly-Clark Corp. and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, according to the mayor's office.

"This is another welcome recognition of our commitment and success in the clean-energy arena," Sanders said. "We have continued to build our green power infrastructure because it makes financial and environmental sense for the city."

San Diego generates and uses "green power" from landfill gas extraction, methane drawn from sewage, a small hydro-electric plant at the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant and from solar energy installations at more than a dozen city facilities.