Ameresco will lead the design and construction of two key initiatives; a 45-ton ground source heat pump system and 375 kilowatts of solar carports. The ground source heat pump project will rely on 20 bore holes drilled 400 feet deep, using the earth’s stable temperature to help heat and cool hospital buildings.
Construction will begin in December on the ground source heat pump system and is expected to be completed by summer 2026. KVH anticipates the system will save about $60,000 a year in energy costs.
“Breaking ground on these projects is about more than clean energy—it’s about responsible stewardship of community dollars and greater reliability for patient care.” said Jonathan Hatfield, Chief Executive Officer, Klickitat Valley Health. “By pairing geothermal with solar, we’ll lower utility costs every year, harden our campus against energy disruptions, and reinvest the savings where it matters most: our patients, providers, and staff.”
The solar carport project will add covered parking north of the hospital campus while generating clean power. Construction for the solar carport project is expected to begin in spring 2026 and wrap up by the end of the year delivering an estimated $30,000 in annual energy savings.
“Projects like these make KVH more resilient and lower our operating costs so we can continue focusing resources on patient care,” said Jonathan Lewis, Director of Support Services at KVH. “We’re grateful for the community support and the state funding that made this possible.”
Both projects are funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Clean Energy Community Grants, supported by the state’s Climate Commitment Act. The act invests cap-and-invest dollars to reduce climate pollution, create jobs and improve public health.
