Westfields Hospital & Clinic begins installation of solar energy panels

NEW RICHMOND, WI — Sept. 18, 2014 — Westfields Hospital & Clinic will install two solar arrays on its campus, thanks to a grant of $25,000 received from WPPI Energy with matching funds from New Richmond Utilities of $5,000. A public groundbreaking ceremony was held at Westfields on Tuesday, September 2nd to kick off the installation. The units are expected to be operational by early October.

Simon Electric Construction Company, Inc., New Richmond, will install the solar electricity generating system. The two free standing, fully adjustable solar arrays will feed into the hospital’s power distribution system, reducing energy requirements from the electrical company by over 14,000 kilowatt hours per year. This equates to enough electricity to operate 1.6 average homes for an entire year.

“As the technology continues to improve and the costs fall, solar energy will become a larger part of our clean energy future. The vision of what New Richmond will look like in twenty or thirty years is likely to include advancements in technology much like we’re seeing at Westfields Hospital & Clinic. By supporting community-wide renewable projects, New Richmond Utilities is illustrating the practical use of renewable energy and enticing customers to do the same,” said Mike Darrow, City Administrator and Utility Manager for the City of New Richmond.

For Westfields Hospital & Clinic, the solar panel installation supports the organization’s dedication to embracing sustainability.

“We are always looking for ways to reach our long-term sustainability goals,” said Steve Massey, Westfields Hospital & Clinic President and CEO. “WPPI Energy and New Richmond Utilities’ investment in the solar arrays on the Westfields campus will help us reduce our environmental footprint. We also intend to use this installation as a learning opportunity for schools and the community on what can be done to reduce energy consumption and costs.”