News Release: February 4, 2011

After Gov. Susana Martinez declared a state of emergency, Presbyterian flipped the switch from gas to diesel at three of its largest facilities to help return gas to the community.

At two degree temperatures, Presbyterian Hospital burns 25 million British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. The average home only burns 60 thousand BTUs per hour. Presbyterian Hospital alone will be able to heat 416 more homes each hour by switching from gas to diesel.

The three Presbyterian facilities that will be switching to diesel include Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital and Presbyterian Northside clinic, which allowed for New Mexico to heat 750 more homes each hour.

“Presbyterian is well equipped to handle these issues and to care for patients during these circumstances,” said Jim Klein, director of engineering for Presbyterian Healthcare Services. “We are pleased to be able to return gas back into the community and are committed to helping in anyway we can during this state of emergency.”