Black River Memorial Hospital

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 4 × C65 Capstone Microturbines with controls
• Annual Generation: >2.5 Million kWh/year continuous baseload power
• Energy Savings: ~$200,000 / year in reduced utility expenditures
• Thermal Integration: 1.6 MMBtu/hr of recovered hot water offsetting gas-fired boilers (supports up to 2,000 lbs/hr steam equivalent)
• Emissions & Incentive Impact: 550 metric tons/year CO₂ reduction; funded in part via a 40% Federal ITC tax credit


The Challenge
Black River Memorial Hospital (BRMH)—a 25-bed critical access facility and Level 4 trauma center serving 21,000 rural Wisconsin residents—operates under tight financial margins due to high Medicare and Medicaid patient volumes. With limited ability to influence healthcare reimbursement rates, hospital leadership focused on controlling internal operational overhead. Operating in a 1968-built facility, BRMH faced rising grid electricity tariffs, fluctuating natural gas costs, and the ongoing need for 100% reliable, uninterrupted power for critical patient care systems. To maximize funds available for patient care, BRMH required a reliable, low-emission energy plant that could cut utility spending and strengthen site resiliency against local grid disruptions.


The Solution
Veristar Energy partnered with hospital leadership to engineer a 260 kW Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system utilizing four C65 microturbines equipped with patented integrated heat recovery modules.
• Onsite Baseload Power Generation: Generates over 2,500 MWh of clean electricity annually on-site, taking direct control of energy supply to displace high-cost grid purchases and shield operational budgets from utility rate spikes.
• Thermal Exhaust Recovery: Recovers 1.6 MMBtu/hr of thermal energy from exhaust gas to produce high-grade hot water, directly offsetting the workload of traditional gas-fired boilers for facility space and domestic hot water heating.
• Federal ITC Capital Optimization: Utilized a 40% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under federal energy incentive programs to significantly lower upfront capital outlay and accelerate total project payback.
• Critical Care Resiliency: Enhances facility power reliability, ensuring stable, continuous power delivery to critical healthcare systems during potential regional grid outages.


The Results
• $200,000 Annual Bottom-Line Savings: Reduces recurring utility bills significantly, directly freeing up operational funds to support essential clinical care and patient services.
• 550 Metric Tons Annual CO₂ Reduction: Cuts local carbon emissions substantially—equivalent to removing approximately 120 passenger vehicles from the road each year.
• Ultra-Low Maintenance & Quiet Operation: Air-bearing microturbine technology operates with zero liquid coolants or engine oil, delivering continuous, low-vibration, ultra-quiet performance ideal for active hospital environments.
• Financial & Environmental Leadership: Establishes BRMH as a healthcare sustainability leader by simultaneously addressing energy affordability, system resiliency, and environmental stewardship.


"With the combination of cutting-edge technology and federal incentives, this project reflects our hospital's commitment to sustainability and operational excellence."
— Carl Selvick, President and CEO, Black River Memorial Hospital