Adventist Health launches solar initiative across Central Valley hospitals

Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley is proposing a solar project that will offset almost all the hospital’s energy use, helping to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint as it works toward a sustainable future.

The solar array planned at Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley would include 3,510 panels producing enough energy to offset 95 percent of the hospital’s energy consumption, totaling a savings of about $3.7 million over 20 years. It’s enough to offset the Co2 emissions of 230 homes and is the equivalent of about 2.1 million pounds of coal burned.

Adventist Health hopes to break ground in November and complete the project by May 2020.

“We’re proud to embrace environmentally conscious initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, particularly in Tehachapi, which has been a global leader in green energy for decades,” said Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley President Jeff Lingerfelt. “The savings we’ll have from this initiative can be rolled directly into providing patient care for our community. That’s something we can all be excited about.”

The project is part of a larger effort by the Adventist Health system to position itself as a leader in energy efficiency across the state. There are plans to build solar arrays at 13 other Adventist Health facility sites spanning from Los Angeles to Mendocino County that will collectively save tens of millions of dollars while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Adventist Health is continuing its partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate and facilities management leader, and solar developer Engie, to transition its hospitals into a renewable energy future.

“Our mission to live God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope compels us to do more than provide compassionate patient care,” said Adventist Health Central California Region President Wayne Ferch. “It compels us to build healthier communities, and that includes doing everything we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to pollution and can lead to chronic health conditions. This solar project is a vital step toward making our communities better places to live.”

Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 32,900 includes more than 23,600 employees; nearly 5,000 medical staff physicians; and 4,350 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 20 hospitals, more than 260 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 15 home care agencies, seven hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. In addition, the Adventist Health Plan serves patients in Kings County. Visit http://www.AdventistHealth.org for more information.