[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6515-6516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING AROOSTOOK MEDICAL CENTER

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to commend The Aroostook 
Medical Center, TAMC, in Presque Isle, ME, for its efforts to improve 
its energy efficiency with compressed natural gas, CNG.
  Dedicated to environmental stewardship and improving the community, 
TAMC is at the cutting edge with its conversion to CNG to meet the 
hospital's heating, cooling, and other energy needs. CNG represents a 
sensible effort to use a viable and affordable domestic energy 
alternative. This event demonstrates TAMC's efforts to create, sustain, 
and grow a modern health care organization to continue making a 
positive difference in Aroostook County. The countless and continuing 
efforts this northern Maine hospital is making to energy efficiency are 
to be commended for their lasting impact.
  Converting to CNG is just one of the ways TAMC has reduced its carbon 
footprint. This efficient source of energy is safer to work with, will 
lower costs, and will burn more cleanly. The conversion to CNG will not 
only benefit the hospital and its patients and employees directly, but 
also will benefit the entire community by reducing emissions.
  TAMC is quickly becoming a leader in environmentally friendly 
practices in northern Maine. The hospital has made changes to its 
nutritional program by eliminating disposable kitchenware, which has 
reduced the amount of waste it sends to the area's landfill. In 
addition, TAMC partners with the University of Maine at Presque Isle to 
improve composting. TAMC also purchases produce from MSAD No. 1 school 
farm, local farmers, and other

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small local growers to support the community and reduce transportation 
emissions.
  Whether it is taking actions as small as reducing waste or as large 
as converting to CNG, TAMC is making a positive impact on the area, 
improving both public health and the environment. I commend TAMC for 
its commitment to conservation and improving efficiency. TAMC is truly 
standing up to its motto, TAMC: More Than a Hospital.

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