FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2010

St. Cloud VA Medical Center to Install Renewable Energy Systems

$4.7 Million Includes Recovery Act Funds

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded contracts totaling $4.7 million to install renewable energy systems at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center in Minnesota.  The projects include installing a ground-source heat pump system, using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and a wind turbine.

“We continue to take steps to assess and reduce our environmental impact,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said.  “Ensuring the sustainability of our facilities across the country allows us to use energy-efficient buildings to accomplish our primary mission – serving Veterans.”

VA’s National Energy Business Center awarded a $2 million contract for a wind turbine electric generation system.  The 600-kilowatt wind turbine, planned for completion in spring 2011, will provide up to 16 percent of the facility’s electricity.  The turbine is American-made, and the entire contract involves small businesses.

The ground source heat pump is a geothermal renewable energy project that is being built with $2.7 million in Recovery Act funding.  It, too, is planned to be ready in spring 2011.  This geothermal system will provide up to 19 percent of the facility’s annual electricity.

VA will conduct wind turbine feasibility studies at 13 additional facilities using Recovery Act funds.

VA’s goal is to increase renewable energy consumption to 15 percent of annual electricity used by 2013.  These two projects at St. Cloud will help meet that goal.

VA operates more than 1,400 sites of health care.  More than 5.5 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2009.

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