Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 15, 2025

Denver Federal Center Adds Solar, Geothermal

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) signed an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) that will help the Denver Federal Center (DFC) toward a goal of achieving a net-zero campus by 2045.

The contract was signed with cleantech integrator Ameresco, Inc.

The $183 million award will advance the electrification of the DFC with 14.4 megawatts of ground-mount solar photovoltaic systems and 62.4 million British thermal units per hour (MMBtu/h) of geothermal bores alongside 20.1 MMBtu/h of electric heat pump capacity. 

These upgrades are designed to provide year-round heating and cooling to displace fossil fuel-fired equipment across 13 buildings. Additionally, an energy sales agreement within the broader ESPC will leverage tax credits for renewable energy. 

With approximately half of the campus electricity generated by solar photovoltaics, the project is designed to lower grid-purchased energy use approximately by 51% and reduce fossil fuel consumption by 51.5%.

The project aligns with GSA’s commitment to the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings, achieving a 49% reduction in natural gas consumption and a 10% reduction in water usage relative to the baseline. The modernized campus will serve as a first-of-its-kind model for sustainable technology adoption within the federal government.

“When we integrate renewable energy and electrification technologies at scale, federal campuses like the Denver Federal Center become a leading example of how modernization gets us resilient, net-zero buildings,” said Robin Carnahan, GSA Administrator, in a statement. “This is how we get a triple win – creating jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through energy efficiency, and supporting healthier communities all across the country.”

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