Pitkin County staff on Nov. 6 recommended the county proceed with a value‑engineered hybrid electrification plan for two county buildings — the Aspen library and the Health & Human Services (HHS) building — after consultant pricing and scope reduction lowered the project cost and kept most of the anticipated annual energy savings.

"These buildings are a high priority for implementation," said Michael Port, the county's climate action analyst, outlining the board's carbon‑reduction goal to cut government building emissions. Port said the county received a $3 million grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and that the grant will require an extension (it expires in December) for the design and procurement work to proceed.

Consultant Peter Rumsey told commissioners the original hybrid design carried higher cost estimates than the county's early budget. The team engaged a contractor, tightened the scope and produced a reduced cost hybrid solution that retained a heat‑pump primary heating strategy with gas backup for the coldest hours and for redundancy. "If we look at what the different scenarios look like, relatively speaking, gas boilers will lock you into high carbon emissions for a long period of time...the hybrid approach has the main source of heating as the heat pump, but the gas is there on the coldest days," Rumsey said.

The board heard a cost summary: combined construction and soft costs for the value‑engineered hybrid solution are about $7.4 million; after applying the $3.0 million DOLA grant the county net is about $4.4 million. Consultants said the hybrid approach will yield significantly lower long‑term energy costs and retains redundancy in a climate with large heating‑degree requirements. Staff said the FY26 budget contains the incremental funding request and that the county can absorb approximately $2.0 million of the net county share through a mix of rent and general fund allocations.

Several commissioners commended the value engineering and urged the team to consult other local actors and utilities about rebate and incentive programs. Commissioner Patty asked staff to consult the Aspen School District’s experience with building electrification, and staff noted conversations are underway with utility partners about possible incentives.

What's next: staff recommended the board approve the value‑engineered hybrid plan and to request a formal DOLA extension to preserve grant eligibility; staff will include the final appropriation in the FY26 budget and return with contract documents and a construction schedule timed to avoid major resource conflicts with other county projects.