Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest non-profit integrated healthcare systems, has finalized an agreement for a major renewable energy purchase that will enable it to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral in 2020. With this announcement, Kaiser Permanente, a health care sponsor of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, is realizing its commitment to improving the health of individuals and communities by addressing climate change.
Kaiser Permanente’s power purchase agreement for 180 MW of clean energy — enough to power 27 of its 39 hospitals — will enable the construction of utility-scale solar and wind farms, and one of the country’s largest battery-energy storage systems.
Kaiser Permanente’s power purchase agreement for 180 MW of clean energy — enough to power 27 of its 39 hospitals — will enable the construction of utility-scale solar and wind farms, and one of the country’s largest battery-energy storage systems. The agreement is part of a comprehensive portfolio of renewable energy solutions and greenhouse gas reduction strategies that together are supporting Kaiser Permanente’s clean energy future.
“Climate change is here. We are seeing the effects of it in devastating wildfires, hurricanes and droughts already impacting people’s lives,” said Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson. “At Kaiser Permanente, we understand that one of the most effective ways to protect the health of the more than 68 million people in the communities we serve is by ensuring healthy environmental conditions. By investing in renewable energy and becoming carbon neutral, Kaiser Permanente is helping to prevent climate-related illness for people worldwide.”
Tyson will deliver remarks during the opening plenary of the Global Climate Action Summit on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.
Environmental stewardship has been an important part of Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to community health for the past two decades. In 2016, the organization announced an ambitious goal to become carbon neutral in 2020, along with several other bold goals to reduce its climate impact. Among the milestones met to date:
- Achieved a 29% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions since 2008, while increasing our membership by 36%
- Reduced water usage by 12% per square foot of building space since 2013
- Opened California’s first LEED Platinum hospital, the Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center, in April 2017
- Hosted California’s first hospital-based renewable microgrid at the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center
- Issued $1 billion in Green Bonds to fund LEED Platinum and Gold building projects
- Joined RE100, California Healthcare Climate Alliance, Ceres Connect the Drops and other climate leadership initiatives
Kaiser Permanente is addressing the intersection of climate and health. Increased rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments, the spread of infectious diseases, heat-related illnesses and injuries from severe weather events and wildfires are some of the recognized health impacts of climate change.
Filed Under: News, Policy
