The Aroostook Medical Center held a ground breaking for its innovative compressed natural gas heating conversion project Thursday. Participating in the event were, from left, James McKenney, TAMC vice president for diagnostic and support services; Tim Doak, TAMC facility engineer; Sylvia Getman, TAMC president and CEO; Gene Lynch, vice chair of the TAMC Board of Trustees; Brian Doyle, the Governor's account executive for Aroostook County in the Department of Economic and Community Development; and Bob Dorsey, president and CEO of the Aroostook Partnership for Progress.

   PRESQUE ISLE -  The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) in Presque Isle became the first in the state, and what is believed by officials to be the first in the nation, to break ground on a project that will allow for a conversion to heat with compressed natural gas (CNG).

   CNG is a form of natural gas that is stored under high pressure.  It is one of the cleanest and safest fuels available.

   At a groundbreaking ceremony for the innovative energy project, TAMC leaders said that once the conversion is complete early next spring, the healthcare organization will save an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 in annual heating costs at its largest facility - A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital on Academy Street in Presque Isle.

   "The savings realized from switching to CNG from #2 fuel oil will help TAMC prepare for a new model of healthcare while ensuring that resources are available to invest in technology and services to benefit the people of Aroostook County," said TAMC president and CEO Sylvia Getman. "This not only makes sound economic sense and helps us advance our mission, but helps us greatly reduce our carbon footprint and makes our organization a much better steward of the environment."

   The first phase of the project is underway with earth moving equipment now on site at the far south end of the hospital property in an area that until recently was used as a parking lot.  Local contractor, Soderberg Construction of Caribou, is preparing the site for a decompression station where, once up and running, tube trailers filled with CNG will be connected.

   The decompression station will lower the pressure and transfer the gas into an underground pipeline, which will run along the eastern boundary of the hospital property and cross a parking lot to connect with and feed the existing boiler plant.  The existing burners on TAMC's boilers can burn CNG with only minor modification, and will also be able to burn #2 heating oil as a back-up fuel.

    "We investigated several different options, including wind power and biomass.  Given the low start-up costs and stable natural gas market, we assessed that CNG was the most cost-effective option," said James McKenney, TAMC vice president for diagnostic and support services.  "We will continue to look toward long term solutions and explore other forms of alternative energy, including biomass, for our facilities throughout central Aroostook County."

   Total startup costs for the CNG conversion project will be around $300,000, so TAMC officials expect a return on investment in less than one year.  According to McKenney, TAMC also intends to expand how it uses CNG in the future to include powering the hospital's air conditioning, clothes dryers, and cooking ovens.  Currently, the hospital uses fuel oil to both heat and cool the facility.

   TAMC officials were joined by state, regional and local area leaders in making the announcement and breaking ground for the coming phase of the project - the laying of the pipeline that will connect the docking station to the boiler plant.  With the boiler plant serving as the backdrop, the project was cited as a best practice in helping move the regional and state economy forward. 

   "It is very encouraging to see Maine businesses taking action to pursue all options to lower energy costs.  Not only will lower energy costs have an immediate impact on their bottom line but it will also position them for future economic and job growth," said Brian Doyle, the Governor's account executive for Aroostook County in the Department of Economic and Community Development.

   Tim Doak, TAMC facility engineer, serves on the alternative energy committee comprised of staff and members of the TAMC Board of Trustees.  Doak designed the site and led the effort to obtain the necessary environmental permitting to allow construction of the site to begin. 

   "Our group worked collaboratively with the Maine Fuel Board, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the State Fire Marshal's office to establish the guidelines and appropriate codes and safety measures for this groundbreaking project.  The State, in particular the Fire Marshal's office, has been very supportive and has responded with remarkable speed to develop guidelines and an approval process to allow this project to proceed," said Doak.

   That effort to seek state approval for such projects was supported by the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) who formed a Natural Gas Working Group to champion this cause and tackle the barriers and rules implementation with the State of Maine.  APP worked with Ken Fletcher (Governor LePage's Energy Director) who was instrumental in working with the Maine PUC, Fuels Board and Fire Marshall to finalize the Natural Gas operating parameters and eliminate the permitting obstacles.

   "This was a great team effort," said Bob Dorsey, president and CEO of APP. "Working with the TAMC team, Aroostook businesses, natural gas suppliers and the State agencies, using the TAMC pilot project as a basis for discussions and getting the go-ahead for natural gas use in the County in just three months is just an incredible accomplishment."

   The rest of the story can be found on the TAMC website.