PRESS RELEASE: General Services Administration to Assess Impacts of Proposed Energy Conservation Measures at the Denver Federal Center

November 02, 2023

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                    Contact: Rich Stebbins 
November 2, 2023                                                                                                                                                                            richard.stebbins@gsa.gov 

 

U.S. General Services Administration to Assess Impacts of Proposed Energy Conservation Measures at the Denver Federal Center

Agency seeks public input and will host virtual public meeting
 

LAKEWOOD, Colorado. –  In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will host a virtual public meeting in support of an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed implementation of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) at the Denver Federal Center (DFC). The EA will examine the impacts on environmental and other resources from potential implementation of ECMs, such as geothermal heat pumps and solar panels, at the DFC.

The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting on November 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MST via Zoom. 

The virtual meeting will include a presentation and a question-and-answer session. GSA will offer the public an opportunity to hear about the proposed project and learn how they can provide input on the issues that are important to the community. Interested persons are encouraged to attend and participate in this virtual meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/890-747-89834

Currently, two action alternatives are being considered in the EA. The first would use a centralized geothermal bore field co-located with solar panels. The second would use decentralized geothermal bore fields adjacent to each building receiving geothermal heating and cooling. Both alternatives would install the solar panels in the southeast quadrant of the DFC.

The proposed project would support decarbonization and electrification of the DFC using clean on-site renewable energy generation. The proposed project is needed to meet the objectives of GSA’s National Deep Energy Retrofit Program by cutting grid-purchased energy use by approximately 75% and water use by approximately 29%. 

Government operations began at the DFC in the 1940s, and the 570-acre site has historically relied heavily on energy that is generated from nonrenewable sources. The proposed ECMs would modernize energy infrastructure at the DFC, reduce lifecycle operating costs, and mitigate risk associated with future fossil-fuel price volatility.

This proposed project is an $88 million investment, partially funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, to make 18 federal buildings on the DFC more sustainable as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. 

Project-related communication and documentation is available on this GSA website.

Public comments concerning the proposed project are due by December 4 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Written comments can be submitted by mail to:
DFC ECMs EA
ATTN: Derrick W. Rosenbach, AICP
U.S. General Services Administration, Region 8
One Denver Federal Center
P.O. Box 25546 
Building 41
Lakewood, CO 80225Comments may also be submitted electronically to R8NEPA@gsa.gov. Please ensure the subject line of the email reads: DFC ECMs EA. As noted above, all comments must be postmarked or submitted electronically by December 4.

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing about $87 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the federal government and the American people. The GSA’s Rocky Mountain Region provides products and services throughout Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. For more information, visit GSA Rocky Mountain Region and follow us at @US_GSAR8.