Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently causing power outages that disrupt vital health center services. This new Learning Collaborative, launching in April 2024, is designed for health centers interested in learning more about emergency preparedness and power resiliency in response to natural disasters, the clean energy solution solar power with battery backup offers for both emergency and year-round use, and how to incorporate this affordable and reliable system into their capital project plans.
Through a series of four learning sessions, beginning on April 23, 2024 and co-presented with our CHARGE partners and guests from health centers and PCAs, participating health centers will gain insight on building energy resiliency through emergency management and preparedness, how to secure board and staff support for clean energy, and then dive into how to finance and install solar+storage systems.
There is no fee for participants as this Learning Collaborative is funded by HRSA through its cooperative agreement with Capital Link. We recommend each organization enroll at least two team members. All organizations interested in participating must:
- Complete and submit an application by April 10, 2024 to Kristin Allen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- Commit to engage in all Learning Collaborative sessions with the goal of incorporating new knowledge and provide feedback on the overall structure and effectiveness of the Collaborative after the last session.
- Obtain written consent from your health center’s leadership for your health center’s participation in the Collaborative on the last page of the application.
Application deadline extended to April 19, 2024.
Session Schedule
April 23, 2024, 2-3:00 ET - Session 1: Building Energy Resiliency through Emergency Management and Preparedness
Did you know that disasters are increasing in both frequency and intensity annually? Did you know that lost revenue due to lack of power is one of the largest and most common losses health centers face during emergencies? This session provides an overview of the importance of power resiliency through firsthand feedback from health center emergency managers.
April 30, 2024, 2-3:00 ET - Session 2: Securing Board and Staff Support for Clean Energy
Health centers thinking about incorporating clean energy into their capital plans often wonder how to gain support from Board and staff. In this session, we’ll discuss how to get buy-in, deal with pushback, and address frequently asked questions about. Health center peers will give first-hand advice and lessons learned from their own projects from conception, to financing, and construction.
May 7, 2024, 2-3:00 ET - Session 3: Funding & Financing Options for Solar+Storage
This session walks health centers through how to purchase or finance solar+storage systems and take advantage of state and federal incentive programs, including the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which can save health centers up to 50% of the total cost of the system.
May 16, 2024, 2-3:00 ET - Session 4: Ready for Energy Resilience: Steps for Installing Solar+Storage
Get ready to flip the clean energy solar switch! This session covers how the process works: how to prepare, the steps in the process, and a sample timeline – from system design to installation. We’ll also discuss group pricing incentives for health centers in the same geographical area.