Today’s commercial electric equipment can deliver the high performance kitchens need while helping improve indoor air quality, reduce heat in the kitchen, and lower maintenance needs. From induction cooktops and electric griddles to high-efficiency fryers and combi ovens, modern electric equipment is helping businesses create safer, more comfortable workspaces for staff while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
PACE can help Boulder County businesses explore options for replacing gas cooking equipment with electric models. Our advisors provide free technical advising to help businesses identify opportunities, compare technologies, connect with available rebates and incentives, and plan upgrades that fit their operational needs and budget.
In addition to the Kitchen Electrification Grant below, PACE has a $5,000 rebate that helps cover electric infrastructure. This rebate helps cover any upgrades needed to install electric equipment including running 220V cable from a panel to new equipment and/or panel upgrades.
If you are adding new equipment, opening a new restaurant, moving to a new location, or redesigning your existing commercial kitchen, reach out to us to learn about available resources and incentives at info@pacepartners.com.
PACE Kitchen Electrification Grant
This grant will help you replace your old gas-fired equipment with new electric models. Through this grant, PACE removes common barriers, like high upfront costs and complicated logistics, so your business can enjoy the savings and reliability of efficient equipment while supporting Boulder County’s sustainability goals.
Qualified applicants will receive 70% of the cost of replacement electric equipment (up to $10,000). Participants pay 30% of the cost of equipment and 100% of the sales tax on the transaction.
Grant Requirements
The Kitchen Electrification Grant is available to Boulder County business owners who meet each of the following criteria:
- Owner lives in Colorado
- Business is located in Boulder County
- Business has been in operation for a minimum of two years
- Owner manages and/or works day-to-day operations and makes long-term decisions
- Business pays utility bill
- Total operating square footage is 2,500 square feet or less
- Existing equipment was manufactured in 2009 or earlier
- Minority-owned businesses are highly encouraged to apply
If you do not meet all the above criteria and would like to be considered, please fill out and submit the interest form and include detailed information in the exception request section.
PACE grants are funded through the Boulder County Sustainability Tax and the City of Boulder’s Climate Tax. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis while funding is available.
Eligible Equipment
The following equipment types are included in the grant:
- Combi ovens
- Cooktops and griddles
- Fryers and steamers
- Warming tables
Costs associated with electrical work will not be covered in the grant, but businesses can apply for PACE’s Electric Infrastructure Upgrade rebate.
If you’re looking to replace aging refrigerators, dishwashers, and ice machines with more energy-efficient models, check out our Kitchen Efficiency Grant.
If you have equipment that falls outside the above categories and you would like your project to be considered for the grant, please fill out the interest form and include a note in the exception field.
As part of the grant, the old equipment will no longer be operated or owned by the business or any other entity. This equipment must be removed and properly disposed of by the program’s distributor.
Application Process
- Apply: Begin the process by completed an application. Click the button below to get started!
- Eligibility: A PACE advisor will reach out to you to verify that your existing equipment meets the eligibility requirements.
- Assessment: Your PACE advisor will meet you onsite to look at equipment and discuss replacement options.
- Quote: Your PACE advisor will provide an equipment quote detailing the amount covered by the grant and the cost you would be responsible for.
- Agreement: If you decide to replace the equipment, your PACE advisor will help you complete the funding agreement.
- Equipment Ordered: After reviewing your submitted agreement, PACE will reserve funding for the project. The distributor for this program, will order the equipment.
- Delivery, Installation, and Payment: Our distributor will contact you to schedule the delivery and installation of your new equipment as well as the removal and proper disposal of your old equipment. You will pay your portion of the new equipment to the distributor upon delivery, and PACE will pay the distributor directly for the grant portion.
- Ownership and Maintenance: Once the equipment has been installed, you own the new equipment and are responsible for ongoing maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes! Please apply for the grant even if you do not meet every one of the requirements. PACE will work with you to make an exception or complete a custom project if possible. Please include as much information as you can in the grant application form and PACE will be in touch with you to learn more.
Electric utilities serving most of Boulder County–including Xcel Energy, Platte River Power Authority, and Tri-State–all have commitments to reduce their emissions by 80% by 2030. Additionally, the City of Boulder, the City of Longmont, and the Town of Nederland all have goals of providing 100% renewable power by 2030.
Continuously cleaning up the electricity grid means that transitioning gas-powered equipment–like griddles, stoves, and ovens–to electric equipment will continue to result in fewer and fewer emissions over time.
Electric equipment also provides other benefits, including:
- Increased safety and comfort
- Improved precision for cooking
- Faster cooking times
- Reduced maintenance
PACE’s partnership with Artzer Restaurant Equipment offers a wide range of new, ENERGY STAR-certified equipment to small businesses. However, if your business needs a style or brand of equipment that cannot be provided by Artzer, PACE offers businesses the option to source equipment from a distributor of their choice and receive a retroactive reimbursement for PACE’s portion of the equipment. This process requires pre-approval by PACE before equipment is ordered. Please complete the grant application and discuss your business’s specific needs with your PACE advisor.
Additional limits and requirements include:
- Grant funding from PACE is capped at $10,000 per business annually.
- The total of all incentives (PACE Restaurant Equipment Grant, utility rebates, etc.) cannot exceed 70% of total equipment costs unless authorized by PACE.
- This grant cannot be combined with PACE rebates.
- As part of the grant application process, you will need to complete a beneficiary agreement. Your PACE advisor will support you through this process.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at 303-786-7223 or info@PACEpartners.com.
Community Highlight
When Graham and Emily Smith opened SoupSmith inside Louisville’s Relish Food Hall, they knew they wanted an all-electric kitchen from the start. After dealing with outdated gas equipment at their first location, they worked with PACE to install high-efficiency electric cooking equipment including induction soup wells, convection ovens, induction cooktops, and a steam kettle. “We never could have made the switch without PACE,” says Graham Smith. “It was so easy.”
The benefits were immediate. Their new induction equipment heats soup quickly, keeps temperatures consistent, and allows staff to cook right in front of customers without excess heat or emissions. “It’s changed everything,” says Smith. “We can talk with customers, let them smell what’s cooking, and create a better experience.” For the Smiths, going electric was about more than efficiency — it also improved safety, comfort, and indoor air quality for both staff and guests.