Chaffee County accepts $1.25 million Colorado Energy Office grant to support waste diversion and energy upgrades

Administrator Beth Helvke described a $1,250,000 grant — an EPA award passed through the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) — that will support Chaffee County's construction-and-demolition waste-diversion policy work and later facility energy improvements.

"Basically, this is an EPA federal award that is passed down through the state, through CEO...It is $1,250,000, and will span over the course of up to 4 years," Helvke said, describing a two-phase project that first targets policy to encourage material segregation and reuse and then funds HVAC and other capital improvements at county facilities to save utility costs.

Commissioners praised staff for securing the award and moved to accept the intergovernmental grant agreement with CEO and proceed with fulfillment actions. Staff said counsel had reviewed the agreement and that the award required policy and operational steps, including future board consideration of waste-diversion ordinances and landfill equipment purchases.