Department of Energy Selects CEG and Partners for up to $57 million towards Resilience for Rural Community Health Centers

Millions of dollars will soon be deployed to install clean back-up power systems at rural health centers across eight states in the Southeast, thanks to a recently announced award negotiation between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the CHARGE Partnership—comprised of the National Association of Community Health Centers, Capital Link, and Collective Energy Company, with Clean Energy Group providing technical assistance. The group has proposed an ambitious seven-year project for up to $57 million to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstration through the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program. The effort will focus on installing solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems to strengthen the energy resilience at up to 175 Community Health Centers serving low-income populations in rural communities across the Southeast. These systems will enable the health centers to deliver vital health services to patients during power outages, and capture utility bill savings for the health clinics during regular operations.

“Community health centers are invaluable resources, especially in rural areas where access to an alternative, like a hospital, can mean traveling miles,” said Clean Energy Group Project Director Marriele Mango. “It’s essential these centers be able to remain open and operational through a power outage. The Solar + Storage Microgrids for Rural Community Health Centers Project is a unique opportunity to build rural health security through resilient power technologies, ensuring the most vulnerable residents have access to local care in the event of an emergency.”

CEG President Seth Mullendore will serve as the Technical Point of Contact/Principal Investigator for this project. CEG will manage this project and help to develop applicable incentive programs and market opportunities, provide technical advisory support to project partners, and assist to identify and coordinate with local and regional workforce training partners. CEG will also work to capture and disseminate lessons learned throughout the project period.

Read a press release from DOE here and read a press release from the National Association of Community Health Centers here.