VA Awards Recovery Act Funds for Renewable Energy Project
$14 Million Contract to Install Plant at Maine VA Medical Center
WASHINGTON – In support of ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded a $14.3 million contract to install a renewably fueled central energy plant at Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine, using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.
“We expect this funding to lead to a number of opportunities for VA to reduce its environmental footprint,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “Our health care facilities use large amounts of energy, and renewable technologies will help our efforts to transition to cleaner, greener energy sources.”
The system to be installed, a 661-kilowatt combined cooling, heating and power plant, features highly efficient generation of electricity, steam and chilled water to meet facility needs. It will run on wood waste, displacing fuel oil that the medical center currently uses. VA estimates the system will supply up to 40 percent of the medical center’s electricity needs and most of its steam requirements, with chilled water from the system supplying a significant portion of the facility’s air conditioning needs. The installation is planned to be completed by spring 2012.
VA selected the site based on results from feasibility studies that were performed to determine the ideal locations for VA to invest in on-site renewable energy projects. VA already has one renewably fueled central energy plant at Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn. That system uses waste methane from a nearby municipal landfill.
VA’s goal is to increase renewable energy consumption to 15 percent of annual electricity usage by 2013. The installation of this renewably fueled energy system will help VA meet that goal.
VA has also awarded Recovery Act funds to install a similar renewably fueled energy plant at White River Junction, Vt., VA Medical Center; a geothermal renewable energy project at St. Cloud, Minn., VA Medical Center; a wind turbine at Bourne, Mass., National Cemetery; and solar photovoltaic systems at the medical centers in Albuquerque, N.M., Tucson, Ariz., and Dublin, Ga., and at Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island, N.Y., and San Joaquin National Cemetery, Santa Nella, Calif.
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