Why these doctors started writing solar power prescription

Solar panels on top of Boston Medical Center buildings supply power as well as credits to be earned through Clean Power Prescription program. Jesse Costa/WBUR
Anna Goldman, a primary care doctor at Boston Medical Center, became frustrated hearing from patients that they couldn’t afford the electricity required for breathing assistance machines, charging wheelchairs or keeping air conditioners running or keeping refrigerators plugged in. So she worked closely with her hospital on creating a solution.
Clean Power Prescription program was born of this endeavor; its pilot effort seeks to assist 80 patients with complex, chronic medical needs who require ongoing assistance to keep the lights on. Utilizing 519 solar panels installed atop of one of Boston Medical Center’s office buildings, half the energy generated is directed back into powering Boston Medical Center while half is given back as monthly utility bill credits of approximately $50 each; Kiki Polk was among its inaugural recipients as she suffers from Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.
On a hot fall day, Polk was nine months pregnant at the time and decided to lean against an air conditioning window unit in her living room for comfort.
Kiki Polk was among the inaugural Boston Medical Center patients to enroll in Clean Power Prescription program and switch on her air conditioner at home in Boston. Jesse Costa/WBUR has the photo.
Polk began singing to herself: “Oh my gosh, this feels so good baby. “This is both my greatest enemy and greatest ally at once!” An enemy in that she can no longer afford the expensive AC units necessary for cooling her house; on cooler days instead she uses fans or opens windows instead. Polk understands the dangers associated with overheating during gestation, including added strain to their heart and potential risks to their unborn fetus. Polk also has a teenage daughter who uses air conditioning too often in her bedroom – something Polk took notice of; as well as falling behind on utility payments herself. Eversource worked out an affordable payment plan with Polk, who works as a school bus and lunchroom monitor, but the bills remained too much for her to manage. When staff from Boston Medical Center where she was treated offered to assist – something which surprised Polk who always thought medical centers were there solely to offer medical help and not assist in personal financial matters – maternity leave has granted Polk the chance to focus on caring for baby Briana Moore while on medical leave from work.
Although most individuals associate “living the dream” with being successful at anything they attempt in life.
Kiki Polk checks her electric bill on her phone to see if the credit from Clean Power Prescription has been applied to her account. Jesse Costa/WBUR
Goldman, BMC’s medical director for climate and sustainability, noted in hospital screening questionnaires thousands of patients like Polk struggle with paying their utility bills.
Dr. Goldman recently spoke with someone whose home contained a hospital bed which was using so much energy that their utility company threatened a shut off of power due to energy use from this bed. Dr. Goldman provided written documentation from them requesting they stay connected while writing a letter on behalf of this individual requesting power remain on. Last year, she and her colleagues at Boston Medical Center sent 1,674 letters to utility providers asking them to keep patients’ gas or electricity running smoothly. Goldman took this figure directly to Robert Biggio, the hospital’s Chief Sustainability and Real Estate Officer. He had counted on solar panels to transition his hospital into renewable energy sources, yet sharing power with patients felt more in line with its mission than keeping all power for himself alone. “Boston Medical Center has long focused on lower-income communities and trying to change their health outcomes for over 100 years,” stated Biggio. “So it seemed appropriate.” While standing on the roof amid solar panels, Goldman pointed out a large vegetable garden on one floor below; she explained they are actually growing food for their patients there while now producing electricity is one more step in providing full healthcare solutions that address all factors which influence healthcare outcomes for each of their patients.
Although, as is so often the case, things go sideways quickly when one tries to switch tracks mid-stream! For this reason it can often pay to bring your own.
Jesse Costa/WBUR Photo/Jesse Costa
Studies show that hospitals help their patients sign up for electricity or heating assistance because research shows it increases respiratory issues, mental distress and difficulty sleeping – common problems among low and moderate income patients, said Aparna Bole of BMC’s Office of Climate Change and Health Equity of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. She described BMC’s approach as groundbreaking: connecting low income patients to renewable energy in such a way as to lower utility bills – truly groundbreaking.”
Bole is using Boston Medical Center’s solar credits program as a case study to demonstrate to other hospitals how similar initiatives might work in their setting. Officials at Boston estimate it cost an estimated total cost of $1.6 million with approximately 60% coming from federal Inflation Reduction Act funds. Biggio has drawn up plans to invest an additional $11 million in solar installations at Boston Medical Center. His aim is to scale this pilot and help more patients, he stated. His vision would expand his program 10 times larger, yet still fall short of meeting demand; currently each participant in his pilot program receives aid for just one year. Boston Medical Center is looking for solar partners who would share their energy with hospital patients in exchange for receiving higher federal tax credits or reimbursement payments. Eversource Vice President for Energy Efficiency Tilak Subrahmanian acknowledges the pilot was complex to launch but once in operation could expand. If other institutions come onboard and participate, “if needed.” Subrahmanian says there is such an urgent need. This story comes to us via NPR’s health reporting partnership with WBUR and KFF Health News.