New Developments in Colorado Geothermal Energy Projects
- Key words
- BLM lease sales; Colorado potential; MT surveys; regulatory barriers
- Location
- Mt. Princeton, Colorado; Poncha Springs, Colorado
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2012
- Session
- Exploration; Laws and regulations; Geophysical surveys
- Language
- English
Abstract
Current Colorado geothermal electrical energy projects include the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs and Poncha Hot Springs efforts in Chaffee County, Colorado, which completed primary geologic, geochemical, and geophysical studies including MT studies finished in spring 2012. Other activities include continued study of the enhanced geothermal sedimentary basin coal bed methane project in the Raton Basin of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. The City of Aspen is drilling a geothermal well for direct use in the middle of Aspen. The long awaited BLM/USFS lease sale at Waunita Hot Springs was limited by excessive stipulations which drove off interested developers. The Mt. Princeton and Poncha Hot Springs projects are being funded for deep reservoir confirmation and testing this Fall. If confirmed and permitted, these projects will be producing Colorado’s first geothermal electrical energy by 2013-2014.
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