WASHINGTON (April 22, 2010) - In support of ongoing renewable
energy initiatives, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has
conducted studies evaluating the potential use of renewable fuels in
energy plants supplying 38 VA medical centers around the country.

"We expect this to lead to exciting opportunities for VA to
reduce its environmental footprint," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric
K. Shinseki said. "These feasibility studies will help our efforts in
VA's transition to clean, renewable energy sources."

The studies were completed in January 2010 for the 38 medical
centers, located in 15 states and Puerto Rico. VA selected these sites
based on factors including availability of renewable fuels, energy plant
characteristics and local utility rates.

The findings will help VA determine the ideal locations for
renewably fueled energy plants, while ensuring cost savings in the long
run.

Renewable fuels under consideration include methane gas from
landfills (biogas) and agricultural waste such as decaying trees and
landscape waste, scrap wood and wheat or corn stalks (biomass).

Along with renewable fuels, the studies assessed the potential
for updating VA's existing energy plants to incorporate combined heat
and power, or cogeneration, technologies. Cogeneration is an
energy-efficient system that simultaneously produces electricity and
steam, hot water or chilled water. VA already has a renewably fueled
cogeneration system at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson
City, Tenn. That medical center uses waste methane that is produced
from a local municipal landfill.

"In conjunction with the investments in clean energy generation
and other environmental projects through our Green Management Program,"
Shinseki said, "these assessments will help VA continue to lead in going
green."

VA operates more than 1,400 sites of care. More than 5.5
million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2008.