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Nov 07, 2024

Direct Relief Supports Resilience and Sustainability at Two California Clinics with New Solar Installations

Direct Relief has announced the completion of rooftop solar power systems at two healthcare facilities in California as part of the organization’s Power for Health Initiative. The facilities serve

Direct Relief has announced the completion of rooftop solar power systems at two healthcare facilities in California as part of the organization’s Power for Health Initiative. The facilities serve patients who are uninsured or might otherwise go without care.

The newly installed systems at the Free Clinic of Simi Valley (FCSV) and Community Health Centers of the Central Coast’s (CHC) Skyway Telehealth Center in Santa Maria will provide these clinics with resilient, renewable backup power, reducing their carbon footprints and generating significant cost savings while ensuring continuity of patient care in the event of power disruptions.

The Power for Health Initiative provides grant funding to healthcare providers across the United States and its territories to cover the design and installation of clean, renewable energy solutions, as well as five years of operations and maintenance. By supporting the installation of solar power systems and energy storage systems, Direct Relief is helping health centers increase their resilience and sustainability in the face of a changing climate and aging electrical infrastructure.

The Free Clinic of Simi Valley, a free and charitable clinic that provides healthcare and other social services to medically underserved residents of Ventura County, has achieved a major sustainability milestone with the installation of a 53.3 kW rooftop solar array. With 135 solar panels now covering 100% of the clinic’s electricity needs, the clinic is officially net zero in terms of carbon emissions.

Funded by a $165,000 unrestricted grant from Direct Relief, the solar power system is expected to save the clinic $20,000 annually in energy costs. These savings will be reinvested into expanding patient services, allowing the clinic to better serve its community while reducing its environmental impact. Since the system became operational, FCSV has used its savings to enhance programs for uninsured and underinsured patients, including medical, dental, counseling, and legal services.

“The Free Clinic of Simi Valley has been a lifeline for thousands of people in our community who might otherwise have nowhere to turn for healthcare,” said Fred Bauermeister, Executive Director of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley. “This solar project not only strengthens our resilience against power outages – an ever more common occurrence in our area – but it also aligns with our commitment to protecting the health of our environment.”

As a key healthcare provider in Ventura County, FCSV handles more than 10,000 patient visits annually and is one of the only local providers of children’s vaccines, which must be stored at specific temperatures to remain viable. The clinic serves patients who are often left behind by the traditional healthcare system, including the working poor who do not qualify for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private health insurance. In fact, 57% of FCSV’s patients are best served in a language other than English.

In the coming months, FCSV plans to further strengthen its power resilience by adding battery storage, ensuring critical services continue during any power disruptions.

“With power outages on the rise across California due to increasingly frequent disasters and emergencies, resilient power projects are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity. These systems ensure that critical healthcare providers can continue serving their communities, even when the grid goes down,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief CEO. “Direct Relief is committed to expanding access to reliable energy so that lifesaving care remains uninterrupted, protecting the health and well-being of Californians in their times of greatest need.”

The solar system was developed with the technical support of American Microgrid Solutions and installed by GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit solar installer. This is the first Power for Health Initiative project completed at a free or charitable clinic in the mainland United States.

In Santa Maria, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC) has installed a new rooftop solar power and battery energy storage system at its Skyway Telehealth Center, funded by a $305,000 unrestricted grant from Direct Relief. The system will power the facility’s telehealth operations, which provide critical remote healthcare services to patients across northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The solar installation ensures that even during power outages, CHC’s telehealth services will remain available, connecting patients to vital healthcare services from the safety of their homes.

Telehealth has become a crucial component of healthcare delivery, particularly for those in rural or underserved areas who face barriers to accessing in-person care. CHC’s telehealth hub serves thousands of patients each year, providing remote consultations, mental health services, and chronic disease management. The solar power system at this facility will further enhance the clinic’s ability to provide uninterrupted care, even as climate-related disruptions to the grid become more common.

“This system will not only reduce our carbon footprint but also ensure that we can continue to serve our patients without interruption, especially in times of crisis,” said Dr. Steven Clarke, CHC’s Medical Director.

The solar array is part of Direct Relief’s ongoing efforts to build resilience at healthcare facilities that serve low-income, high-need populations. By reducing operational costs through solar power, CHC will be able to reinvest savings into expanding telehealth services and enhancing patient care.

The new solar installation at the Free Clinic of Simi Valley and the solar and storage system at Community Health Centers of the Central Coast were funded by grants from Direct Relief’s Power for Health Initiative, which supports health centers and free clinics as they transition to renewable, resilient energy solutions. This Initiative supports the design, installation, operations, and maintenance of customized resilient backup power systems at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), free and charitable clinics, and other community health facilities across the U.S. and around the world.

By reducing health centers’ reliance on traditional, carbon-emitting energy sources and eliminating downtime during power outages, the Power for Health Initiative enables partners to remain operational during emergencies, continuing to serve communities in need. To date, the Initiative has supported the installation of solar and energy storage systems at 22 clinics in disaster-prone areas and underserved communities in California, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico, with dozens of projects in the design and construction stages.