Local VA biomass energy project gets federal honor
CHILLICOTHE — Chillicothe’s VA Medical Center recently was honored on a national level for its contribution to positive energy changes within federal agencies as part of the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program.
The 2013 Federal Energy and Water Management Award in the Small Team Project category identified the VA’s first biomass boiler plant and several key contributors to its development.
The new biomass boiler plant began operation in May 2012, and during the first few months, it saved 10 million BTUs of natural gas and more than $170,000 when compared to the previous boiler plant which operated in Chillicothe for 47 years. This new system, which was funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, uses wood chips to create steam, which also powers a turbine for electricity.
Team members who were recognized with the award are Dale Allard, Chillicothe VAMC energy manager; Steven Benson, chief of engineering/acting associate director; John Elliott, VISN 10 energy manager; Ryan Jeter, acting chief of facilities management service; and Ron Stertzbach, VISN 10 capital asset manager.
The system serves as the primary steam source on campus and furnishes hundreds of thousands of kilowatt hours of electrical power each quarter. The project is part of an overall phased implementation plan for the Chillicothe VA Medical Center campus to promote sustainable and cost-effective practices during the course of the next 40 years.
