Powering the Future: Microgrid Progress Means Sustainability, Reliability

Valley Children’s continues to advance one of the most ambitious renewable energy projects in pediatric healthcare: a campuswide microgrid designed to deliver clean, reliable and uninterrupted power for the children and families we serve. This year, the project reached several major milestones on the path to a more resilient energy future.

Construction is now well underway with the project’s most recognizable feature, the George‑shaped solar panel field. This uniquely designed solar array not only symbolizes our commitment to innovation but also stands as a visible testament to our mission of creating a healthier, more resilient environment for future generations.

“This project is about protecting the health and safety of our children, no matter what challenges come our way,” said Todd Suntrapak, Valley Children’s President and CEO. “It reflects our responsibility to care for children and improve the communities where they live, learn and play. We’re proud to be leading the way.”

The microgrid’s first phase is firmly on track, with regulatory completion expected in November 2026 and operational readiness in early 2027. Once activated, this phase will provide clean, dependable power to support normal hospital operations, reducing our reliance on the broader electrical grid and lessening vulnerability to outages from weather, grid failures or wildfire.

Following the initial rollout, project teams will begin integrating the microgrid with our emergency power systems. This will further enhance our energy resilience, ensuring critical care can continue uninterrupted, even during major grid emergencies. Final approvals for full integration are anticipated in April 2027, with complete system operation planned for that May.

Each step forward moves us closer to a future where Valley Children’s can operate on clean, stable and self‑generated power, no matter the external conditions. When fully operational, the microgrid will supply 80% of the hospital’s energy and reduce the campus’ carbon emissions by 50%, with a commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.

The significance of this work extends beyond Madera. In March 2025, Ratan Milevoj, Vice President of Innovation and Assistant Chief Strategy Officer, served as a featured speaker at the American College of Healthcare Executives’ “Congress on Healthcare Leadership” in Houston.

The following month, it was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Danielle Barry’s turn as she was invited by the U.S. Department of Energy to present our energy strategy at the “Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit” in Washington, D.C. Speaking to national leaders from the public, private and industrial sectors, Danielle emphasized the critical importance of preserving continuous power in a healthcare environment where even a momentary outage can impact the ability to care for kids.

Danielle outlined Valley Children’s comprehensive energy resilience strategy, which leverages renewable generation, advanced storage technology and modernized infrastructure to reduce emissions and deliver long‑term operational savings. Her insight helped spotlight the essential role hospitals can play as anchor institutions that elevate both environmental health and community stability.

And May saw Ratan joining a panel at the “Facilities and Campus Energy North America Summit,” also in Washington, D.C., where she shared insights into the microgrid’s design and its capacity to generate, store and distribute electricity, dramatically reducing the hospital’s reliance on fossil fuels.

We are grateful for the leadership Ratan and Danielle bring to this work, and for the teams across our organization turning this vision into reality. Their efforts continue to position Valley Children’s at the forefront of healthcare sustainability, demonstrating how environmental responsibility and exceptional patient care go hand‑in‑hand.

Our commitment is clear: a healthier environment means healthier futures for kids, and our microgrid is a powerful step toward both.