The waiting room at St. Aldric’s emergency department is calmer than it was a year ago. The screens on the wall show estimated wait times now, colour-coded, updated every few minutes.
Marcus Teague became aware of the change because the bill arrived. “I had no idea it was a pilot,” Teague said.
Transparency is now the central question on the council. The devices can detect sound levels, and the procurement documents does not specify whether it can be shared with police.
What the data show
Funding for the next phase is drawn from a federal research award. Project leaders hope to build a larger demonstration unit within two years.
Long-term trends complicates the signal. During drought summers, flows ran as much as 3 degrees higher, which is why the long record is the study’s real strength.
For patients, the practical effect has been harder to measure. Teague said the change cut his wait by nearly half. “I did not expect to notice it, but I do,” Teague said.
- Stores energy for up to 94 hours
- Field trial planned for 2027
- Estimated cost of $33 per kilowatt-hour
- Uses iron, water and air as primary inputs
- 11352 devices in the next phase
The privacy question
Officials say they underestimated demand. Roughly 9.4 percent of participants waited longer than promised, according to figures shared with the Dispatch.
Investigators recorded 21 months of data between 2019 and 2025. One finding stood out was during periods of peak demand, when values rose.
The data, reported in October in the Journal of Applied Systems Research, suggest that the new triage software may reduce costs by as much as 19.5 percent compared with current approaches.
Reliability remains a focus of testing. The units operated through 1307 charge cycles without failure, according to the team.
| Acuity level | Median wait before | Median wait after | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (resuscitation) | 77 min | 60 min | -17 min |
| Level 2 (emergent) | 155 min | 153 min | -2 min |
| Level 3 (urgent) | 31 min | 1 min | -30 min |
| Level 4 (less urgent) | 164 min | 133 min | -31 min |
| Level 5 (non-urgent) | 171 min | 157 min | -14 min |
The method
Grid operators have expressed interest. A planning manager said the utility would need at least 5 years of field data before any large order.
Regional models show summers will grow hotter and drier. Even under optimistic assumptions, peak readings are expected to increase a further 3 degrees within 30 years.
The team works out of a converted warehouse, staffed by 7 researchers and a budget of about $2578 thousand.
There were nights with eleven people in the audience and we played like it was a thousand.
Saoirse Lindahl
Why it matters here
Upfront expenses are still the main obstacle for many households. A full system runs $7 thousand installed, but tax credits can cover several thousand dollars.
Saoirse Lindahl, who studies regional planning at Valley Polytechnic, emphasised that lab results do not always survive contact with the real world. “The physics is sound; the economics are the open question,” Lindahl said. “The next 4 years will tell us whether it scales.”
Related programmes in other mid-sized cities have had mixed results. One cost twice its estimate, mainly because of maintenance costs.
In the coming year, the team hopes to seek a larger grant before the end of 2028. The timeline rests on funding.
How it works
Users surveyed by the Dispatch raised concerns. Nearly 45 percent reported the experience had improved, and a minority reported technical glitches.
Some experts are skeptical. Gideon Farrow, who has worked on similar systems, said the cost estimates left open questions. “It is promising, but I would want to see a second team reproduce it,” Farrow said.
Some context helps: conventional approaches depend on expensive materials such as lithium and cobalt. the software works with iron, water and air, which are cheap and abundant.
Put simply, the system relies on storing energy as rust and releasing it as the metal is restored. None of the chemistry is new; the challenge is making it work at scale.
Timeline
- December 2017: Residents of Tanner Heights petition for a hearing.
- May 2019: A first draft is released.
- October 2021: A consultant report is published.
- September 2023: A partial budget of $54.0 million is set aside.
- January 2025: A grant of $25.7 million is set aside.
- March 2026: Estimates rise to $65.8 million.
Paying for the next phase
The full dataset has been released through the university library, so other researchers may check the work. The transparency is unusual for a project of this size, Lindahl said.
The technique is relatively simple. Every sample is checked every 9 days, and readings are entered into a shared database.
This article included a review of 438 pages of public records, including residents, officials and outside experts.
Step back for a moment, and the stakes come into focus: choices being made now could define how the valley looks for a generation.
The background is technical but important: most existing systems depend on components with a lifespan of about 12 years. the software uses iron, water and air, which are cheap and abundant.
From St. Aldric Medical Center filing, November 2026
What we still do not know
We asked St. Aldric Medical Center for additional detail. A representative shared a short email which said that the numbers were preliminary and subject to change.
We will keep reporting on the software as it develops. If you have experience with this can reach the reporter directly through our tip line.
In short: 11 years of planning, $53.5 million in committed funding, and a decision that may yet change.
The Dispatch will continue to follow the software through the next decision. If you have experience with this may send tips securely through our tip line.
Samuel Okafor can be reached at samuel.okafor@brindlemoor-dispatch.example. Have a tip? Use our secure tip line.
Made the apple cake twice now. Second time I used a mix of tart and sweet apples and it was even better.
Went last Friday on the strength of this review. The sardines were exactly as described. Dessert was also exactly as described, unfortunately.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
Good question. The documents we reviewed did not say, and the agency has not responded yet. We will update the story if they do.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
The part about the west side is the real story. Nobody on council lives over there and it shows.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
I have lived here for thirty years and I have seen this exact plan announced at least three times. I will believe it when I see the crews.
Good piece, but I think the headline undersells how bad the seawall situation really is.
Copper Row Records is a treasure. Theo once spent twenty minutes helping me find a record I could only hum.
Does anyone know if the public comment period is still open? The city website is no help at all.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
This is why local journalism matters. Subscribed again after letting it lapse.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
Respectfully, the reporter left out that the same vendor ran the last pilot, which went way over budget.
The part about the west side is the real story. Nobody on council lives over there and it shows.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
Respectfully, the reporter left out that the same vendor ran the last pilot, which went way over budget.
I have lived here for thirty years and I have seen this exact plan announced at least three times. I will believe it when I see the crews.
I would love a follow-up on what happens to the workers at the old plant.
Fair point, and thank you. We have added a line clarifying that.
Copper Row Records is a treasure. Theo once spent twenty minutes helping me find a record I could only hum.
The part about the west side is the real story. Nobody on council lives over there and it shows.
Made the apple cake twice now. Second time I used a mix of tart and sweet apples and it was even better.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
As a nurse at St. Aldric I can confirm the override part. The software is a tool, not a replacement for judgment.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
The heat pump rebate website crashed on me three times. Glad to know it was not just me.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
The part about the west side is the real story. Nobody on council lives over there and it shows.
This is why local journalism matters. Subscribed again after letting it lapse.
My kids went to Larkspur. It breaks my heart to read this but I am not surprised.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
Thank you for actually putting the numbers in a table. Most coverage just says "millions" and leaves it at that.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
Good piece, but I think the headline undersells how bad the seawall situation really is.
Does anyone know if the public comment period is still open? The city website is no help at all.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
Can we please stop calling everything a "smart" something? It is a streetlight with a sensor.
Copper Row Records is a treasure. Theo once spent twenty minutes helping me find a record I could only hum.
Made the apple cake twice now. Second time I used a mix of tart and sweet apples and it was even better.
My kids went to Larkspur. It breaks my heart to read this but I am not surprised.
Fair point, and thank you. We have added a line clarifying that.
Does anyone know if the public comment period is still open? The city website is no help at all.
My kids went to Larkspur. It breaks my heart to read this but I am not surprised.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
The fee change makes sense for big vendors and is terrible for small ones. Simple as that.
The ferry is great. Took it with my dad on Sunday and he talked about the old boats the whole way across.
Good question. The documents we reviewed did not say, and the agency has not responded yet. We will update the story if they do.
As a nurse at St. Aldric I can confirm the override part. The software is a tool, not a replacement for judgment.
Went last Friday on the strength of this review. The sardines were exactly as described. Dessert was also exactly as described, unfortunately.
I have lived here for thirty years and I have seen this exact plan announced at least three times. I will believe it when I see the crews.
Fair point, and thank you. We have added a line clarifying that.
The part about the west side is the real story. Nobody on council lives over there and it shows.
Respectfully, the reporter left out that the same vendor ran the last pilot, which went way over budget.
Fair point, and thank you. We have added a line clarifying that.
The part about the west side is the real story. Nobody on council lives over there and it shows.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
Thanks for reading. We are planning a follow-up and would welcome tips at the address above.
My kids went to Larkspur. It breaks my heart to read this but I am not surprised.
I have lived here for thirty years and I have seen this exact plan announced at least three times. I will believe it when I see the crews.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
My kids went to Larkspur. It breaks my heart to read this but I am not surprised.
Went last Friday on the strength of this review. The sardines were exactly as described. Dessert was also exactly as described, unfortunately.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.
Grocery prices are absurd. I drive to the store on the east side now because it is consistently cheaper.