PRESS RELEASE: U.S. General Services Administration Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Energy Conservation Measures at the Denver Federal Center

March 04, 2024

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Contact: Rich Stebbins
March 4, 2024                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     richard.stebbins@gsa.gov

U.S. General Services Administration Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Energy Conservation Measures at the Denver Federal Center
Agency will host public meetings to seek input on alternatives

LAKEWOOD, Colorado – In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will host public meetings in support of an environmental assessment for the proposed implementation of Energy Conservation Measures at the Denver Federal Center. The draft Environmental Assessment examines alternatives related to the installation of geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, and other conservation measures at the Denver Federal Center.

The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting on March 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MST via Zoom (link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82072677502). 

A separate in-person meeting will be held on March 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MST in the Orchard Room at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, located at 801 South Yarrow Street in Lakewood, Colorado. 
These meetings will offer the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and provide input on the issues that are important to the community.

The draft Environmental Assessment presents two action alternatives for public review. The first centralizes the location of the geothermal heat pumps and co-locates them with solar panels. The second locates these pumps adjacent to each building receiving geothermal heating and cooling. Both alternatives propose installing the solar panels in the southeast field of the Denver Federal Center.

The project is an $88 million investment, partially funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, to make 18 federal buildings at the Center more sustainable in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. The proposed project aims to cut grid-purchased energy use by approximately 65% and water usage by approximately 29%. The project will reduce GSA’s carbon footprint and ensure the Federal Center becomes less dependent on nonrenewable energy sources.

Government operations began at the Denver Federal Center in the 1940s and the 570-acre campus has historically relied on energy generated from fossil fuels. The planned project would modernize energy infrastructure at the Denver Federal Center and reduce lifecycle operating costs.

The draft Environmental Assessment and project-related communication are available on this GSA website.

Public comments concerning the proposed project are due by April 5, 2024, 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
Denver, CO 80225

Comments 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 April 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. MST.

 

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 $100 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.