Colorado is ramping up its “heat beneath our feet,” alternative energy initiative, focusing on what are said to be vast quantities of geothermal energy. This month it announced the award of $7.7 million for dozens of geothermal initiatives across the state, including one here in Chaffee County.
3,692 acres of land owned by the Colorado State Land Board, leased to Mt. Princeton Geothermal for geothermal exploration. Not pictured: the important stuff, approximately 6,000 ft below the surface. Photo by August Toevs.
This investment will support 35 innovative projects to install geothermal heat pumps in buildings; study and develop interconnected geothermal systems between buildings (thermal energy networks); and test and confirm geothermal resources for zero-emissions electricity generation. All together, these awardees are expected to invest more…
