Ameresco To Drive Energy Resiliency And Net-Zero Goals At Denver Federal Center

Ameresco, Inc., a leading clean technology integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, has signed an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to help the Denver Federal Center (DFC) move closer to its goal of becoming a net-zero campus by 2045. Valued at $183 million, the project includes the installation of 14.4 MW of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems, 62.4 MMBtu/h of geothermal bores, and 20.1 MMBtu/h of electric heat pump capacity. These upgrades will provide year-round heating and cooling while replacing fossil fuel-based systems in 13 buildings.

Robin Carnahan, GSA Administrator, stated “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. This is how we get a triple win – creating jobs, saving taxpayer dollars through energy efficiency, and supporting healthier communities all across the country.

Nicole Bulgarino, President of Federal Solutions and Utility Infrastructure at Ameresco, also mentioned “Ameresco is excited to partner with the GSA on this flagship project. This DFC ESPC showcases the integration of renewable energy and advanced building technologies as a means of realizing GSA’s bold vision for a net-zero future.”

An Energy Sales Agreement within the ESPC will utilize tax credits for renewable energy, enabling the project to generate about 50% of the campus’s electricity from solar power, reducing grid energy use by 51% and fossil fuel consumption by 51.5%. Aligned with GSA’s Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings, the initiative will lower natural gas use by 49% and water usage by 10% compared to baseline levels. The modernized campus is set to become a pioneering example of sustainable technology within the federal government.