California Children’s Hospital Launches Renewable Energy, Resiliency Plan to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions

Valley Children’s Healthcare, a provider of pediatric care in Central California, announced plans for a new environmental strategy to build energy resiliency for hospital campus operations and to drive efforts for improved air quality in the region. The plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It also includes the installation of a renewable energy microgrid.

When online and operational in 2025, the microgrid will reduce reliance on the traditional power grid, ensuring Valley Children’s Hospital and buildings on its campus remain operational in the event of power outages. When Valley Children’s achieves net zero, its entire campus will produce no carbon emissions, eliminating its carbon footprint and impact on air quality.

• Additionally, Valley Children’s is committed to creating energy resiliency and addressing the impact of climate change on families in Central California by:
• Creating a sustainable and clean energy strategy for the main hospital campus located in Madera, including the renewable energy microgrid that encompasses solar photovoltaic materials, fuel cells and battery storage.
• Investing in water treatment and recharge capabilities
• Developing a 10-year plan through the Valley Children’s Guilds Center for Community Health to effectively identify the health needs of Central Valley children.
• Encouraging sustainable food practices, including sourcing food from local and sustainable producers and reducing food waste.

In 2022, Valley Children’s was one of the first hospitals to sign the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Sector Climate Pledge, a nationwide effort to address the impacts of climate change on public health. Successful implementation of Valley Children’s energy resilience program will be used as a model for other HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge signees.

For more information, visit valleychildrens.org/sustainability.