USDA Press Release: USDA Helps Reduce High Energy Costs in Remote Rural Areas

Posted on September 19, 2015

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Release No. 0256.15 Contact: Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384 USDA Helps Reduce High Energy Costs in Remote Rural Areas WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded nine grants to help reduce energy costs for residents in remote rural areas where the cost of producing electricity is extremely high. “These grants will help deliver energy more cost-effectively and will help the environment,” Vilsack said. “Providing this funding is one of many ways that USDA helps grow the rural economy. When businesses and families spend less on fuel and electricity, they have more money to invest in the local economy. This helps create jobs and benefits entire communities.” USDA is providing $7.9 million through the High Energy Cost Grant program, which is administered by USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. Vilsack also noted that energy conservation, through programs like this, helps improve the environment by reducing carbon emissions and the use of fossil fuels. High Energy Cost Grants may be used to improve energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities in communities where the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average. Grants are available to businesses, non-profit groups, states, local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes. Funding for each grant is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement. The grantees are: Alaska Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium – $426,916 to retrofit sanitation systems and train operators in the eight communities of Napaskiak, Nunapitchuk, Chefornak, Nightmute, Tuntutuliak, Newtok, Teller and Tununak. These communities have no road access, high energy costs and struggling economies. The project will increase energy efficiency by upgrading interior and exterior lighting; installing new controls for heating systems and laundry services, new controls for water storage and pumping; and making weatherization improvements. Puvurnaq Power Company – $857,920 to integrate a 200 kilowatt lithium ion-based battery energy storage system into the wind-diesel power system in Kongiganak, Alaska. This project will lower fuel consumption by up to 20,000 gallons per year and save the the community about $92,000 annually. Ipnatchiaq Electric Utility – $175,071 to 1) bring electricians to Deering for five weeks; 2) replace three deteriorated poles; 3) replace insulator caps; 4) repair the distribution system and 5) train staff at the utility to operate and maintain the system. The Ipnatchiaq Electric Utility is in Deering, Alaska, on the Kotzebue Sound at the mouth of the Immachuk River, 57 miles southwest of Kotzebue. The 122 residents are predominantly Alaska Native (Inupiat Eskimo). Arizona Hualapai Tribe – $1,881,130 to build an electrical transmission line from Grand Canyon West to a substation operated by UniSource Energy Services. The project will reduce the cost of electricity from 46 cents per kilowatt hour to 8 cents per kilowatt hour. Lowering energy costs will make housing more affordable for workers who commute to Grand Canyon West. Hawaii Switching Gears, LLC – $500,000 to install three 110 kilowatt wind turbines in the North Kohala District on the big island of Hawaii. The turbines will lower the overall cost for electricity in this community. Heritage Ranch, Inc. – $896,450 to provide equipment and technical assistance for a solar energy network that will serve 255 native Hawaiian in Milolii, in a remote southwest corner of the big island of Hawaii. The community is one of a few traditional fishing villages in Hawaii. It has no utility-provided electricity and no potable water. Residents pay high rates to have fuel and water delivered. This project will provide solar power for electricity, refrigeration and cooking, and a solar distillation kit to procure safe drinking water. Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Utilities Corporation – $382,000 to improve the power distribution grid by replacing 63 pole-mounted electric transformers. The project also will create a more efficient power grid. Pacific Wind and Solar, LLC – $1,359,489 to install a 3.0 kW kilowatt solar panel array at the homes of households assisted by the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation on Saipan. Each home will have twelve, 250W commercial-grade solar panels. South Dakota Sacred Power LLC – $1,406,975 to install wind turbines that will provide energy at homes in the St. Francis community within the Rosebud Sioux. Each household system will include a 1.8 kilowatt Pika T701 wind turbine, and one Pika X3001 inverter to condition the power for the grid. Since the start of the Obama Administration, USDA has provided 52 grants totaling $64 million benefitting communities burdened by high fuel costs in 12 states, two U.S. territories and two areas of the Western Pacific. President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities. #

Women’s Health Month – Domestic Violence Action Center

Posted on September 19, 2015 Updated on September 19, 2015

September with the Dreamers … Domestic Violence Action Center    …    Summer is over. Well, it’s still hot. But the calendar tells us we are into the new school year and all that it brings. With or without kids, we are all impacted by the beginning of private, public and university classes! September is also Women’s Health Month. This gives us the opportunity to highlight the importance of taking good care of our bodies, recognizing the value of good health and renewing our commitments to a healthy lifestyle. Safe relationships are included in that formula. The correlation between partner violence and adverse health outcomes is strong and persuasive. The costs of health care are astronomical on a good day; if you are suffering harm from abuse, your costs are higher, as your need for health care is increased. Ourhealth care system has a key role to play in addressing domestic violence; a visit to your doctor, or a health care setting creates an opportunity to disclose your danger, receive support, obtain referrals, and consider your options in a safe place. The Centers for Disease Control reported that the average cost of health care services exceeds twice the average cost for men; the higher cost is “largely due” to the costs and impact of domestic violence.” Group Health researchers (WA) found that for survivors, health care costs average $585 per year higher than normal during the period of abuse; their health care costs rise to more than $1,200 year above non-abused women for the first two years after abuse and $444 after the third year. It is important to understand that harm occurs, too often, after partners separate. It’s also possible that victims cannot access health care services that they should be receiving when they they are with a controlling or abusive partner. Amy Bonomi, Ohio State University, co-author of the study asserts that the results suggest domestic abuse acts on health care costs much like chronic health conditions (consistent with what is found with people who quit smoking or abusing alcohol or drugs). A study found that domestic violence results in more emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, including greater use of physician services [1]. The U.S. Department of Justice finds that 37% of women admitted to emergency rooms for care for violence related injuries were injured by a current or former intimate partner. The CDC examining costs from the 700,000 reported incidents of domestic violence in America in 2001 placed the annual estimated direct health care cost associated with domestic violence at around $4.8 billion. Dr. Willie Parker DVAC has been partnered with Queen’s Medical Center to bring practitioner and patient education to the health care setting and adjusting policy to improve screening and provide information routinely. In the first week of September (2015), DVAC staff were treated to an in-service session with Dr. Willie Parker, a former Queen’s doctor (and former member of the DVAC Board of Directors), who is enjoying a Visiting Professor stint at John A. Burns School of Medicine; he reinforced the principle that there is an essential and inextricably entwined relationship between our community domestic violence programs and our health care providers in service to survivors. Good health is a healthy diet, good exercise, sufficient rest, psychological balance and a safe relationship. DVAC is absolutely committed to the advocacy necessary to improve the community’s understanding of the relationship between safe relationships and good health. [1] The data was from 1995. It is expected that costs would be considerably higher in today’s dollars.

USDA Tip of the Day – Find the Fiber

Posted on September 9, 2015

Find the fiber. Use the Nutrition Facts label to check the fiber content of whole-grain foods. Good sources of fiber contain 10% to 19% of the Daily Value; excellent sources contain 20% or more. Make half your grains whole Why is it important to eat whole grains? Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.      Questions? Contact Us STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All |  Subscriber Help This service is provided to you at no charge by ChooseMyPlate.gov.

USDA Tip of the Day – Utilize Your Veggies

Posted on September 5, 2015

ChooseMyPlate@public.govdelivery.com>

Utilize your veggies! A fresh salsa with tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro, and onions is a fun and yummy way to incorporate veggies into your diet. Pair low-sodium salsas with raw veggies or a small serving of whole-grain tortilla chips. Tips to help you eat more veggies Tips to help you eat whole grains

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Changes in Health Insurance Provide Support for Breastfeeding Moms

Posted on August 29, 2015

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR

VIRGINIA PRESSLER, M.D

DIRECTOR

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2015                                                                      15-035

CHANGES IN HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING MOMS

HONOLULU – During National Breastfeeding Month in August, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) reminds everyone to support nursing mothers and encourages new mothers to take advantage of recent changes in health insurance coverage that now offer more support for breastfeeding moms.

Health care insurance providers in Hawaii, such as AlohaCare, Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA), Kaiser Permanente, Ohana Health Plan, TRICARE, United HealthCare Services, and University Health Alliance (UHA) provide breast pumps, breast pump supplies and breastfeeding counseling at no cost for new mothers, including mothers who adopt an infant and plan to breastfeed. This is a significant benefit change in providing additional support for breastfeeding and makes breast pumps more accessible and affordable.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure infant health.  The composition of breastmilk changes to adapt to the specific nutritional needs of a growing child. As recognized by experts, breastfeeding provides many benefits not only to children but to mothers, families, and society as well.

All nursing mothers deserve the services and support they need to nurse. WIC is committed to providing these services to low-income women and children. Thanks to WIC and other breastfeeding advocacy groups, Hawaii breastfeeding duration rates have improved. Hawaii’s 2014 Breastfeeding Report Card shows an increase from 20.7 percent in 2000 to 36.5 percent of infants who were breastfed at 12 months. With the latest advancements in health insurance coverage, breastfeeding women are significantly more likely to achieve and maintain optimal breastfeeding practices. For more information on WIC programs and benefits for breastfeeding moms, contact: Rhoda Castillo at (808) 586-8368 or go to http://health.hawaii.gov/wic/

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