A hospital, a utility and a community come together to create opportunities – job opportunities, enhanced health care for residents, and a cost-effective energy source for neighboring businesses and residents.
From laundry and food prep to humidification and heating, the newest additions to Gainesville’s Northeast Georgia Medical Center would not be complete without natural gas service from Liberty – nearly 11,000 feet of gas mains (more than 2 miles if you’re doing the math) to provide the services needed to keep the new hospital facilities running properly while supporting a much-needed expansion.
The medical center is constructing a new tower to house an additional 150 beds, the relocation of the emergency room and helipad, and additional services that will provide residents of northeast Georgia with enhanced life-saving - and life-changing - medical care.
“Liberty is proud to be such a vital part of this important addition to our community,” said Carolyn Bermudez, President, Liberty Georgia. “Being able to provide the natural gas that will literally fuel this project means that Liberty is making it possible for the hospital to run daily operations efficiently, and we know how important that is in providing enhanced healthcare to the residents of Gainesville.”
“Being part of this project is an exciting opportunity for Liberty, allowing us to strengthen our community relationships while providing enhanced natural gas services that will be an integral part of the day-to-day operations of that new hospital tower and provide necessary care to our community,” said Larry Derby, Key Account Manager for Liberty - Georgia.
As the city of Atlanta expands, the outskirts of the city need to expand as well, and that growth means Liberty must grow with it. Gas service will be used for many things in the hospital’s new tower but will also help fuel the center’s new central energy facility that is focused on sustainability.
“We are so proud to be involved in something that will bring more jobs to the community and provide more centralized, state-of-the-art healthcare to Gainesville residents and allow them to stay close to home for all of their medical needs, including the health needs of our own local Liberty employees,” said Olivia Ward, Manager, Engineering for Liberty - Georgia. “It’s very special that we can provide a commodity to them at an affordable cost to allow them to perform necessary tasks like equipment sterilization, cooking for patients, and laundry, all of which are essential in a medical environment.”
Partnering with the hospital Board, the project management company, and the construction company were all pivotal relationships to the success of the project. “It has been challenging, but very satisfying work,” Olivia said. “We are looking forward to the opening of the facility in 2025 and helping more people to have cost-effective energy and life-saving care – right here in Gainesville.”
