Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Champions Sustainability Initiatives in Nevada County

Grass Valley, CALIF. (April 2, 2026) –  Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (SNMH), a CommonSpirit Health facility, continues to expand sustainability initiatives in 2026, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to both community well-being and environmental stewardship throughout Nevada County. SNMH's comprehensive approach to sustainability integrates CommonSpirit Health's overall organizational environmental goals, building upon their work each year with local, community-focused programs and involvement designed to create a healthier future for the region. These initiatives are now being amplified through strategic partnerships and enhanced community engagement.

As a prominent nonprofit health system, CommonSpirit Health actively works to reduce its environmental impact across its facilities in the United States, with SNMH leading these efforts within Nevada County. In 2025, SNMH received the prestigious Practice Greenhealth Partners for Change Award. This recognition directly reflects CommonSpirit Health’s mission to care for the whole person by caring for the environment. Through demonstrable progress in waste reduction, resource stewardship, and responsible purchasing, SNMH clearly demonstrated living the values of honoring human dignity, protecting the vulnerable, and advancing the common good in the communities they serve.

In 2024, taking a significant stride towards addressing food insecurity and climate change, SNMH partnered with Replate, a leading food recovery organization. Through this partnership, excess good food from SNMH is 'rescued' and redistributed to local nonprofit organizations, feeding hungry community members and diverting waste from landfills to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. This continued collaboration with Replate combats climate change by eliminating food waste and providing nutritious meals to those in need.

"Sustainability for Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital goes much further than a corporate initiative," said Scott Neeley, MD, President and CEO of SNMH. "For us, it is a direct commitment to our community and the environment we all share. We do this work because our community is a true gem, a place of unique beauty and spirit worth every effort to protect. The people who call this area home, our friends, neighbors, and colleagues, deserve nothing less than a healthy, clean, and safe environment. We believe that our local action contributes to a healthier California and ultimately to a healthier planet."

On behalf of the hospital, Dr. Neeley further demonstrates this dedication to a resilient future through his role as a  member of the Governing Board for The Resilience Project of Western Nevada County, which launched in October of 2025. This climate collaborative consists of six local agencies, including SNMH, and is dedicated to building a resilient rural future through education, conservation, land  stewardship,  and storytelling, actively addressing evolving climate and economic conditions—a commitment that aligns with SNMH's broader sustainability goals.

SNMH's ongoing dedication to sustainability underscores its mission to improve the health of the people it serves, extending beyond direct patient care to encompass the health of the environment and the entire community.

Dignity Health's Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

As a member of CommonSpirit Health, the Dignity Health system in California has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 and reducing operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030. This commitment builds on CommonSpirit’s decades-long leadership in encouraging the health care sector to examine its impact on the planet and human health—especially among the most vulnerable communities, who are disproportionately affected by poor air quality and extreme weather events. In 2025, Dignity Health hospitals across California made significant progress in reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, including:

• Shredding more than 3,341 tons of paper saved an estimated 56,797 trees, 23.3 million gallons of water, more than 10,000 cubic yards of landfill space, and 1.27 million gallons of oil.
• Recycling more than 814 tons of mixed materials.
• Reprocessing 50 tons of medical devices.
• Recycling 1,380 tons of cardboard.
• At a local level, SNMH created the Share the Spirit Vegetable Garden to create access to respite and healthy vegetables.

These efforts highlight Dignity Health’s ongoing commitment to reducing its environmental impact and advancing sustainable practices that protect both people and the planet.

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About Dignity Health California 
Dignity Health California is a nonprofit network of over 9000 physicians, more than 35,000 employees, 29 acute care hospitals, and 200-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging 

centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Dignity Health California provides award-winning care to communities in five primary markets across the state: North State, Sacramento, Central Valley, Central Coast, and Southern California. 

Dignity Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare 

organizations, dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Learn more at DignityHealth.org and CommonSpirit.org.