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Home / News / Community Health Centers cuts ribbon on solar, battery system at Skyway Telehealth Center | Local News | santamariatimes.com
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Community Health Centers cuts ribbon on solar, battery system at Skyway Telehealth Center | Local News | santamariatimes.com

Oct 30, 2024Oct 30, 2024

City Reporter

Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC) celebrated a significant step towards resilient, sustainable healthcare with the ribbon-cutting for a new rooftop solar and battery system at its Skyway Telehealth Center in Santa Maria.

The milestone, achieved in partnership with Direct Relief, highlights CHC’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access for underserved communities across northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Funded by a $305,000 grant from Direct Relief’s Power for Health Initiative, the system marks Direct Relief’s first such project in its home county.

“This new resilient power system is more than an infrastructure upgrade. It’s an investment in the health and wellbeing of people who rely on CHC’s essential health services here on the Central Coast – where wildfires and flooding create health risks and related power outages limit access when they’re most needed,” said Thomas Tighe, CEO of Direct Relief.

The new 31.8 kW rooftop solar array and 60 kW/145 kWh battery storage system, designed by Simmitri, Inc., and supported by American Microgrid Solutions, will offset over 100% of the telehealth hub’s energy needs, making the center a net-zero facility.

In the event of a power outage, the system can operate in off-grid mode, typically providing over 72 hours of continuous power. The capacity ensures that CHC’s telehealth services remain accessible, even during emergencies.

For CHC, the installation symbolizes cost savings as well as increased reliability.

“The system will not only reduce our carbon footprint but also ensure that we can continue to serve our patients without interruption, especially in times of crisis,” said CHC Medical Director Dr. Steven Clarke. The expected annual savings of over $14,500 will allow CHC to channel more resources toward patient care.

Dr. Christina Pinto, a family practice physician in the telemedicine department, emphasized the importance of such resilience.

“The Direct Relief solar panels and battery pack … will allow us to continue to provide quality healthcare even if there’s a disaster, a power outage or anything like that,” said Pinto.

She highlighted the benefits of telehealth, noting that patients could access care “wherever they are,” whether at home or work. Pinto added, “We just can’t do a hands-on physical exam, but we do everything else … medication refills, prescribing, counseling, and referrals.”

With 28 CHC locations serving over 109,000 patients annually, the Skyway Telehealth Center provides behavioral health, psychiatry, and primary care. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the center has conducted more than 275,000 telehealth visits, helping reach patients who face barriers to in-person care.

Sara Rossi, Direct Relief’s managing director of the health resiliency fund, described the project’s significance, saying, “This is part of our Power for Health Initiative … and we’re privileged to have provided the funding that enabled them to have the new resilient power project.”

Rossi said that full operational approval from PG&E is anticipated within the month.

April Chavez is the Santa Maria City Reporter for the Santa Maria Times. If you have information, or a story idea that you would like to share, send her an email at [email protected].

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