Powering the Block: Neighborhood Scale Electrification in Denver

MDCRES - Powering the Block: Neighborhood-Scale Electrification in Denver The Metro Denver chapter of CRES welcomes graduate students from the University of Colorado Boulder's Masters of the Environment (MENV) program for a look at neighborhood-scale electrification in Denver. Denver has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2040, but heating with natural gas remains one of the city’s most pressing climate and equity challenges. To address this, our speakers' Capstone project reimagines how neighborhoods can transition to clean heating through neighborhood-scale electrification, a strategy that retires branches of the natural gas distribution system block by block and replaces them with renewable, electric alternatives. We explored two approaches: building-by-building upgrades and shared thermal energy networks. By combining neighborhood-level data, community input, and policy analysis, the group has created a foundation that Denver can build upon to pursue electrification that is equitable, scalable, and affordable. ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS: Lisa Shi: Lisa is a second-year graduate student in CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment program, specializing in energy policy. She is currently a Clean Transit Enterprise Fellow at Colorado's Department of Transportation, where she contributes to expanding transit services and advancing electrification initiatives across the state. In her free time, Lisa enjoys practicing yoga and spending time outdoors with her dog, Sam. Erin Spencer: Erin is a second-year graduate student in CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment program, specializing in energy policy. This year, she has gained hands-on local government experience with the City and County of Denver in researching electrification and the City of Louisville in supporting climate resilience efforts. For fun, Erin enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, weightlifting, and perfecting her coffee-making skills. Muriah Summer: Muriah is a second-year graduate student in CU Boulder's Masters of the Environment program, specializing in renewable and sustainable energy systems, with a focus on urban decarbonization. She has experience teaching preschool, has lived in Japan, enjoys sewing, practicing karate, and playing tabletop board games. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in local government sustainability. A question and answer session followed the presentation. TIMELINE: 0:00 Presentation 34:07 Q&A This program was organized by the Metro Denver chapter of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society and was recorded at their November 20, 2025, meeting. Contact us at mdcres@cres-energy.org or visit us online at https://www.cres-energy.org/. CREDITS: Video production by Brian Beinlich, https://brianbeinlich.com. Intro/outro credits: Video by Kelly from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-f... Music: “Headlands” by National Sweetheart via the YouTube Audio Library. ABOUT CRES: For more than 25 years, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) and its local chapters have provided education, policy advocacy, and community engagement to accelerate Colorado toward a 100% renewable energy future. CRES is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)3 membership organization that drives environmental, social, and economic benefits for our communities by promoting all forms of renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage, high-performance buildings, and other low- or zero-carbon solutions. CRES features several local monthly speaker series throughout the state, provides speakers, experts, and workshops, and weighs in on state energy policy. Learn more about CRES, membership, and how you can sign up to become a speaker or volunteer by visiting our website at https://cres-energy.org.