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Sheridan wins $300,000 DRCOG subaward as city finalizes beneficial electrification plan
Summary
City officials reviewed a final draft of Sheridan's Beneficial Electrification Plan and were told the plan targets a roughly 45% reduction in utility-sector greenhouse-gas emissions by 2027; Mel England said Sheridan secured a $300,000 DRCOG subaward to fund outreach, staffing and code support.
Sheridan officials on Dec. 8 heard a final-draft presentation of the city's Beneficial Electrification Plan and were told the plan is designed to move the city much of the way toward its 50% greenhouse-gas reduction goal for 2030.
Mel England, Sheridan's sustainability program manager, told the council that the plan focuses on building electrification and transportation and sets a utility-sector target of about a 45% reduction from the 2021 baseline by 2027. "The city of Sheridan received internal approval from DRCOG for $300,000" in EPA-related subaward funds, England said, adding the money will pay for outreach, staff training, third-party code assistance and a shared full-time electrification specialist staffed jointly with Englewood.
Partners in Energy, a free program delivered with Excel Energy, helped shape the plan. Andrea McCarthy, a Partners in Energy consultant, told the council the program provides technical analysis and targets as well as connections to utility incentives and statewide resources. "Partners in Energy is a completely free program through Excel Energy," McCarthy said, describing the program's role in setting targets and identifying strategies.
Council members pressed presenters on how the plan's 45% utility-sector reduction ties to Sheridan's broader 50% by-2030 goal. England said the plan addresses the two largest local emissions categories'buildings and transportation'and will position the city "real pretty" to meet the 2030 target. Presenters said the plan includes short-term (about 18 months) targets and discrete strategies across four focus areas: existing residential, existing commercial, redevelopment and municipal operations.
Excel Energy programs were highlighted as implementation partners. England said an Excel Energy Fleet Electrification Advisory report is providing a step-by-step municipal fleet transition plan, expected in final form soon, with estimates on savings and applicable grants.
The council asked about grid emissions and whether electrification could be undermined by fossil generation. McCarthy said Excel Energy's generation mix for the Front Range is getting cleaner and emphasized the long-term emissions benefits of switching to electric vehicles and electric heating where the utility is decarbonizing.
Next steps: staff will finalize the plan after council comments and begin implementing initial strategies using the DRCOG funds and the Partners in Energy framework. The city will bring the final plan back to council after adjustments and as implementation contracts and staffing are finalized.
