HUNTINGTON, Utah — Intermountain Health has announced the opening of a solar farm that will provide green energy to hospitals and clinics.
Intermountain Health says the project is part of its sustainability efforts.
The healthcare company said in a press release that Castle Solar Farm will produce renewable energy for decades to come, and will also save the company $500,000 a year in energy costs.
The solar farm will produce enough electricity to offset the annual costs of 17 Intermountain Health facilities, including nine hospitals. The farm is located 140 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
Eric Liston, vice president of clinical services at Intermountain Health, said the project is one of the largest sustainability investments the company has ever made.
“By creating cleaner environments in the communities we serve, Intermountain is helping patients live the healthiest lives possible,” Liston said in the release.
Intermountain Health partnered on the project with DE Shaw Renewable Investments, which will build the solar farm and own and operate the site.
Benefits of solar power plants in healthcare
Hospitals operate 24 hours a day and consume a huge amount of energy. By switching to solar power, Intermountain Health is Reduce greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of taking 6,400 cars off the road for a year.
“Castle Solar is the third project DESRI has built in Emery County,” Hy Martin, DESRI’s chief development officer, said in the release.
“Our team is excited that Castle is now providing renewable energy to PacifiCorp, the University of Utah and Intermountain Health, and we’re pleased to continue to deliver new projects for our partners despite the supply chain constraints of the past few years.”
