2008 Woodie Awards
Potowat Health Village goes solar
Terria Smith
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Community
- Page 1 of 1
The Arcata-based Potowat Health Village became home of the largest solar-powered system in both Humboldt and Del Norte counties Aug. 28.
Eric Johnson, traditional land management specialist at United Indian Health Services, said the system powers a quarter of the facility's energy, which is equivalent of 15 to 18 average-sized homes.
"It's the cleanest energy for the environment," Johnson said.
Potowat is the headquarters of United Indian Health Services, a regional group that provides health services to Native Americans who live in the area. The organization started in 1968, with the Potowat facility operating in Arcata since September 2001.
"Potowat really represents health to the environment and people," said United Indian Health Services Director Jerome Simone. "The missing element has always been that we didn't have solar."
Johnson said the initial design for the facility included the solar project. Although funds were not available at the time, the infrastructure was built for the possibility of solar.
With the assistance of the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University, that possibility became a reality. United Indian Health Services received a $250,000 grant from the State of California to install the system.
An additional $26,000 raised from local contributions will be used for the educational component of the project, which includes training facility staff about the system and informational charts to teach the public.
Schatz Center was contracted to help with this part of the project. The center will also perform verifications on the system to make sure it runs at its full potential.
The project's environmental and educational significance has a cultural significance as well. Paula Allen, traditional resources specialist at United Indian Health Services, said was an exciting blend of the old and the new.
"Traditionally, in our culture we were taught that it's your responsibility to take care of the place you're from," Allen said. "Solar fits into that value system."
Allen said Potowat Health Village is doing its part to reduce the type of demand that supports the damming of rivers. Hydroelectric power dams have impacted the population of river salmon, a pivotal life and food source to local tribes.
Johnson said during the light switching ceremony held Aug. 28, a ribbon was cut over a photo of the Iron Gate Dam on the Klamath River, representing a diminishing demand for that energy source.
"We actually believe and understand that if we want the dams to come down we need to do our part," Allen said. "We realize it's just a small part, but it's a step in the right direction."
In adopting this new system at Potowat, Johnson said they are making a step in history toward a breakthrough in solar technology.
"Thinking about how you can make the world healthy," Allen said, "can make you a healthier person."
Terria Smith can be reached at tos2@humboldt.edu
Eric Johnson, traditional land management specialist at United Indian Health Services, said the system powers a quarter of the facility's energy, which is equivalent of 15 to 18 average-sized homes.
"It's the cleanest energy for the environment," Johnson said.
Potowat is the headquarters of United Indian Health Services, a regional group that provides health services to Native Americans who live in the area. The organization started in 1968, with the Potowat facility operating in Arcata since September 2001.
"Potowat really represents health to the environment and people," said United Indian Health Services Director Jerome Simone. "The missing element has always been that we didn't have solar."
Johnson said the initial design for the facility included the solar project. Although funds were not available at the time, the infrastructure was built for the possibility of solar.
With the assistance of the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University, that possibility became a reality. United Indian Health Services received a $250,000 grant from the State of California to install the system.
An additional $26,000 raised from local contributions will be used for the educational component of the project, which includes training facility staff about the system and informational charts to teach the public.
Schatz Center was contracted to help with this part of the project. The center will also perform verifications on the system to make sure it runs at its full potential.
The project's environmental and educational significance has a cultural significance as well. Paula Allen, traditional resources specialist at United Indian Health Services, said was an exciting blend of the old and the new.
"Traditionally, in our culture we were taught that it's your responsibility to take care of the place you're from," Allen said. "Solar fits into that value system."
Allen said Potowat Health Village is doing its part to reduce the type of demand that supports the damming of rivers. Hydroelectric power dams have impacted the population of river salmon, a pivotal life and food source to local tribes.
Johnson said during the light switching ceremony held Aug. 28, a ribbon was cut over a photo of the Iron Gate Dam on the Klamath River, representing a diminishing demand for that energy source.
"We actually believe and understand that if we want the dams to come down we need to do our part," Allen said. "We realize it's just a small part, but it's a step in the right direction."
In adopting this new system at Potowat, Johnson said they are making a step in history toward a breakthrough in solar technology.
"Thinking about how you can make the world healthy," Allen said, "can make you a healthier person."
Terria Smith can be reached at tos2@humboldt.edu
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