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Gundersen Health System is committed to sensible investments in renewable energy projects - such as biofuels, wind and solar power - that will enable us to power our buildings with clean renewable resources.
To reach our goal of being energy independent by 2014, renewable energy production must approach 220 million cubic feet of natural gas and 45 million kW hours of electricity. Our portfolio of projects will utilize renewable power opportunities available through partnerships with municipalities, utility companies and businesses to meet all of our energy needs.
Gundersen's energy plan includes a project with La Crosse County that uses waste biogas created from the garbage at the landfill and turns it into electricity and heat. The gas is piped to an engine installed on the Gundersen Lutheran - Onalaska Campus. The gas turns a generator that produces clean electricity that is sent to the power grid. The engine also creates heat, which is used to heat buildings and water on the campus. The project represents about 11 percent of Gundersen's total energy independence goal. It produces as much energy as the Onalaska Campus consumes, making the multiple building healthcare campus 100 percent energy independent.
Gundersen is also using other approaches for creating clean energy, including wind turbines. A wind turbine project with a local partner is generating 6.5 million kW hours annually. Another wind turbine site produces an additional 7.5 million kWhours a year, for a total of nearly 14 million kWhours.
With a fluid plan and model in place, the health system will be able to implement new technology when it becomes available.
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