Canandaigua VA Medical Center to Install Renewable Energy System
WASHINGTON – In support of ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded a $15.3 million contract to install a renewably fueled central energy plant at Canandaigua VA Medical Center in New York, using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.
“We expect this funding to lead to a number of great 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 415-kilowatt combined cooling, heating and power plant, features highly efficient generation of electricity and steam. It will run on wood waste such as wood chips and bark salvaged from local lumber yards to generate clean, steam-powered energy. VA estimates the system will supply up to 46 percent of the medical center’s electricity needs while also addressing steam requirements. This installation is planned to be completed by July 2012.
VA selected this site based on results from feasibility studies that were performed to determine the ideal locations for investing in on-site renewable energy projects. VA already has a renewably fueled central energy plant operating 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 renewably fueled energy plants at Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine, White River Junction VA Medical Center in Vermont and Chillicothe, Ohio, VA Medical Center; a geothermal renewable energy project at St. Cloud, Minn., VA Medical Center; a wind turbine at Bourne, Mass., National Cemetery; solar photovoltaic systems at the medical centers in Albuquerque, N.M., Tucson, Ariz., and Dublin, Ga., and at the national cemeteries in Calverton, N.Y., and San Joaquin, Calif.
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