SLV Regional Medical Center is soaking up the sun and meeting 85-percent of the hospital's electricity needs with a 1.45 megawatt solar photovoltaic system. That percentage of energy usage makes SLVRMC one of the highest users of solar energy for a hospital in the country, rural or urban. SunEdison, one of North America's largest solar energy services providers operates and maintains the ground-mount solar system that is located on 40 acres less than two miles southwest of the hospital. Minimal transmission lines connect the solar energy system to the hospital. Since its inception in early 2010, avoided emissions have been 5,597.275 pounds of CO2 pounds; 6,929 pounds of NOx, and 7,013 pounds of SO2; all equal to that produced by 282 cars and 204 homes. The San Luis Valley ranks in the top 15-percent of U.S. regions for solar insolation (amount of sunshine) because of limited clouds and colder temperatures. The hospital also uses natural gas as a fuel source.