Federal funding will accelerate the shift from gas to electric in buildings

Key Points:

• Denver, Boulder County, and nearby areas are getting $199.7 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce climate pollution.
• The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) will use this funding to make buildings more energy-efficient.
• The program will help residents and building owners switch from gas to electric appliances.
• 47% of the funds are dedicated to upgrading homes and reducing energy bills in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
• To receive this information in another language, contact Christian Herrmann by phone 720-450-0059 or email cherrmann@bouldercounty.gov.

Members of the grant writing team from Boulder County, DRCOG, and local goverments from across the Denver region.

Denver, Colo. — The Boulder County Commissioners welcomed the announcement of $199.7 million in federal funding from the EPA to reduce climate pollution in the Denver Metro area by electrifying and decarbonizing buildings. The grant, awarded to DRCOG and developed in collaboration with Boulder County and other regional governments, is part of the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which selected only 25 projects from more than 300 applications. The funding for this grant comes from the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

This project targets the largest source of climate emissions in the region—greenhouse gasses from buildings—with a focus on low-income and underserved communities. It encompasses several initiatives designed to curb climate pollution from the built environment, including:

• Centralizing rebates for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooktops/ranges, and energy efficiency upgrades
• Providing advising to help building owners and homeowners plan and implement upgrades
• Training 4,800 workers as HVAC technicians, plumbers, and electricians

Each initiative is designed to address specific environmental and industry challenges, aiming to improve air quality and public health in the Denver metro area, which faces dangerous levels of air pollution, including ozone.

“Working with DRCOG and local governments across the region, our Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience helped secure this funding to kickstart a major transformation in our built environment, improving both indoor and outdoor air quality,” said Commissioner Claire Levy. “This award highlights the value of cross-party and cross-jurisdictional cooperation. We are thankful for the support from EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker, as well as Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, and Representative Neguse.”

“As our power grid shifts toward cleaner energy sources, upgrading from fossil fuel-burning equipment to electric alternatives in our homes and buildings is a crucial step in reducing the pollution that fuels the climate crisis," said Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann. "This grant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Denver metro area buildings by 70% below business-as-usual by 2050, with a focus on supporting low-income and disproportionately impacted communities. It's a win for the entire region.”

“This federal grant, boosted by an additional $73 million from local governments, will transform Colorado’s workforce by training more than 4,800 people for electrification roles,” said Commissioner Marta Loachamin. “This transformation will make electrifying homes and buildings easier, faster, and more affordable, while also creating a new generation of future-forward jobs.”

This funding is projected to cut 148.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050 — the equivalent of taking 35 million gas-powered cars off the road for an entire year. For more information about what this grant means for the region, read the project factsheet here.

• Contact the Board of County Commissioners

• View Commissioners' Meeting Documents and Records

• Visit the County Commissioners' webpage