Solar Energy Boost for VA Hospital in Tampa
Posted by Paola Blanco on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 @ 01:00 PM
The James A. Haley VA Medical Center began construction on a $20 million dollar solar energy project last week and joined the ranks of 172 solar consumers currently tapping in to Tampa’s electric grid. The hospital plans to utilize four acres of lot space to generate 3.6 megawatts of electricity or 10 percent of their energy needs.
By adding to the site’s existing infrastructure and creating “sun soaking” canopies equipped with photovoltaic cells, Haley’s VA Medical Center does its part to comply with a plan to reduce the VA agency's energy footprint by 30 percent over 10 years, which was set in 2005. Jeffrey Karsonovich, chief of facilities management service at Haley said, "This will go a long way toward achieving that goal."
Although modifications are underway, the project funded by VA National Energy Business Center will not be finished until the end of July 2012. Once complete, it will be the largest PV system on Tampa’s Electrical grid and it will totally eclipse its predecessor, Tampa Housing Authority's J L Young Apartments. That system is one-tenth the size of the Haley project.
As solar energy becomes a more prevalent source of power for large scale residential and commercial development, the need for specialized professionals with in-depth knowledge of the most current solar technology is easy to see. Individuals interested in taking advantage of solar energy infrastructure development in the southeast US and the Caribbean would benefit from an accelerated comprehensive program like the one offered by US Solar Institute. US Solar is the only school dedicated to renewable energy that is licensed by the state of Florida’s Department of Education to offer a Diploma in Photovoltaics.
Proper training ensures that the energy supplied by newly developed solar energy systems will fulfill the structure’s power requirements and in the case of the Haley project, it will also guarantee that the needs of veterans receiving healthcare services will be met. In addition, having specialized personnel on staff ensures that long term investments in our local infrastructure will remain profitable, both in terms of energy credits and sustainable job creation.