Food Truck Electrification & Efficiency Grants

There are many economic and social benefits to having a vibrant food truck culture. However, there are environmental concerns and barriers unique to mobile vendors and food trucks. Diesel, propane, and gas generators conflict with noise ordinances and emit harmful air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides.

In collaboration with the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), PACE is launching an initiative to support mobile food vendors in becoming more sustainable. This program will allow food truck and mobile business owners in Boulder County to upgrade their old kitchen equipment and convert dirty and noisy generators into efficient electric zero-emission power stations.

Grant Details

Mobile businesses in Boulder County can apply now for a grant that absorbs most of the cost of new kitchen equipment, a battery power station, and an electric system.

  • The Engines-Off program from RAQC covers 80% of the battery power station and the electric infrastructure costs up to $20,000
  • The Refrigeration and Restaurant Equipment Grant from PACE covers 80% of the cost of replacing inefficient equipment with brand-new, energy-efficient models. This grant also supports the replacement of gas-powered cooking equipment with electric alternatives.
  • The Engines-Off program, as well as supplemental rebates from PACE, can support the installation of a solar panel system.PACE advisors are ready to help you take full advantage of all the available incentives. We have dedicated time to learning about technology and processes and have built the necessary partnerships to ensure you have a sustainable system that meets your needs.

More about the Engines-Off program from RAQC

Engines Off has already granted 19 food trucks along the Front Range with systems delivered or installed. PACE and the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) are now expanding applications to more mobile businesses.

The Engines Off program is available for vehicles operating in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, or Jefferson counties. Don’t miss this opportunity to transition to cleaner mobile energy.

Visit the Engines Off website to check out some of the trucks who have received a grant from RAQC.

Why make the switch to electric power?

  • Cost Savings: You can save on the high cost of fossil fuel for generators and ongoing maintenance and repair expenses. Over time, these savings can cover the initial investment and installation costs of power stations within approximately one year.
  • Better Customer Experience: Traditional generators produce noise, unpleasant odors, and pollution. Electric power stations enhance customer and employee satisfaction while increasing opportunities for mobile vendors to cater to private or indoor events such as weddings.
  • Public Health Benefits: Continuous exposure to gas, diesel, or propane generators can lead to serious health issues. Cleaner power sources contribute to a healthier environment for your team and clientele, and open new opportunities for mobile vendors in business!
  • Combatting Climate Change: One gas generator running for 8 hours emits up to 165 pounds of CO2, comparable to burning 83 pounds of coal based on the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. Reducing reliance on gas generators can help mitigate your environmental impact.

2025 Food Truck Electrification Rally

PACE is hosting a food truck electrification rally where food truck owners can see electrified food trucks in action, talk with owners about the electrification process, meet with electric systems vendors, and learn about available grants. We hope you’ll join us for this fun event!

Event Details
Tuesday, June 3
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Latino Chamber of Commerce
1925 Pike Rd Suite 202, Longmont, CO 80501

RSVP for the rally here

Application Process

  1. Business owners should start by completing our interest form.
  2. A PACE advisor will contact you to provide additional information and guidance throughout the application process. RAQC requires the following information to apply to their electrification grant:
    • Business contact information
    • Final quote, either received from a battery manufacturer/vendor or written up based on the price of desired equipment
    • Colorado Certificate of Good Standing; Unique Entity ID from the Systems for Award Management (SAM ID)

    If you are missing any of these requirements, complete our interest form anyway, and a PACE advisor will contact you and help you with the process.

  3. Once the application meets the requirements and is approved, business owners can purchase after receiving the RAQC PO (purchase order).
  4. After installation of a new battery system is complete, owners must provide proof of proper old generator recycling at an approved recycling center. A PACE advisor can guide you through this process as well.
  5. Business owners must submit the required reimbursement documents through RAQC’s Reimbursement Portal.
  6. You will receive a check within 6-12 weeks after the reimbursement documents are submitted to the Reimbursement Portal and they meet the criteria. You will receive a confirmation.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at 303-786-7223 or info@PACEpartners.com.

Henry's owners stand in front of a cooler that PACE grants helped fund.

Community Highlight

When Julie Sargent took over Henry’s, a bar in Louisville, she inherited not just a historic local bar, but a pair of aging under-the-bar coolers. “They were dinosaurs…very ancient,” Sargent says with a laugh. “We’re pretty sure they were put in during 40s or 50s!”

Sargent (pictured with her kids, who are co-owners) had to invest a lot up-front to get the kitchen running and couldn’t afford to replace the old coolers right away. She had a repairman who kept them running, but eventually they quit for good. At that point, Sargent remembered hearing about PACE rebates, “I heard PACE could help cover the cost of replacing the old coolers,” she recalls. “When the coolers finally died, I figured I had nothing to lose.”

Sargent reached out to PACE and was happy to learn that PACE’s equipment partner could move quickly to replace her new coolers. Sargent was also able to upgrade her old upright refrigerators to sleek new merchandisers that beautifully display their beverages. “There was no catch, no strings attached,” Sargent says. “They paid 80%, and we only paid 20%. It really was that simple!”