Geothermal Working Group
Geothermal energy has the potential to meet a large portion of the nation’s energy and power needs. It can help the country diversify its renewable energy portfolio and enhance energy security. Geothermal energy is safe, clean and reliable. With these benefits in mind, the US Department of Energy (DOE) developed the GeoPowering the West program.
The program seeks to address barriers to geothermal utilization and identify opportunities for project development. Several western states are receiving support from DOE to operate working groups to tackle relevant issues and educate a broad audience about geothermal energy applications. The working groups focus on all categories of geothermal energy: electricity production; direct use and district heating; and geothermal heat pumps (geoexchange).
For more information, read the Colorado Geothermal Strategic Plan found in the Publications Section. In addition, read the Geothermal Working Group's 2008 Action Plan (PDF 43 KB).
Icelandic Geothermal Trade Mission
In January of 2009, Icelandic and Colorado scientists, technical experts, and community leaders gathered in Denver to explore possibilities for geothermal energy projects and partnerships between Icelandic companies and communities in Colorado. Access the meeting’s presentations and agenda by clicking on the link above.
Geothermal Trade Mission to Nevada
In October of 2008, representatives from the GEO, utilities, local communities, the Colorado legislature and the oil industry participated in a trade mission to Nevada to learn firsthand about utility-scale geothermal power development. Nevada generates over 300 MW of geothermal power, enough power for 300,000 homes, and plans to develop another 1000 MW over the next 10 years. Participants discussed Nevada's successful development process for geothermal power plants, visited leading geothermal developments and shared policy recommendations. Below are materials from the trade mission:
- Nevada Trade Mission Notes (PDF 204 KB)
- Developing Successful Geothermal Projects (PDF 191 KB)
Presented by Daniel Schochet - Ram Power, Inc. - U.S. Department of Energy Technologies Program (PDF 105 KB)
Presented by Eric Hass and Bill Vandermeer - U.S. Department of Energy - Innovative Power Plant Technology (PDF 52 KB)
Presented by Randy Peterson - Ormat - Developing Nevada's Renewable Energy Resources (PDF 553 KB)
Presented by Hatice Gecol - Nevada State Office of Energy - Nevada Geothermal Energy (PDF 1.9 MB)
Presented by Alan Coyner - Nevada Division of Minerals - Nevada Geothermal Regulatory Framework (PDF 571 KB)
Presented by John Snow - Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources - Colorado Trade Mission (PDF 987 KB)
Presented Christy Morris - Ram Power, Inc. - Bureau of Land Management Geothermal Leasing & Development (PDF 1 MB)
Presented by Mel Meier - Division of Minerals - Colorado Trade Mission - Nevada Commission on Minerals (PDF 2.5 MB)
Presented by John Snow - The Enel Group
Geothermal Working Group Meeting Minutes
Geothermal Working Group Meeting Presentations
Thursday April 30th, 2009
- U.S. DOE Geothermal Technologies Program (PDF 345 KB)
Presented by Eric Hass - US Departmernt of Energy - Geothermal Projects in Colorado (PDF 10 MB)
Presented by John w. Lund - Geo-Heat Center - Pathway to Accelerated Commercialization (PDF 5 MB)
Presented by Jeremy McGrath - Raser Technolgies - Geothermal Heating & Cooling of Buildings in the San Luis Valley (PDF 2 MB)
Presented by Erwin Young - Colorado Gators - Geothermal Academy for Sustainable Institutional Collaboration (PDF 3 MB)
Presented by Masami Nakagawa - Colorado School of Mines - Colorado Resource Maps (PDF 1.9 MB)
Matt Sares, Geothermal Resource Maps - Reservoir Exploration and SUstainable Geothermal Development (PDF 5.7 MB)
Presented by Gene Suemnicht - EGS, Inc. - Deelopment o Geothermal Direct-Use Projects (PDF 2.2 MB)
Presented by John W. Lund - Geo-Heat Center - Geothermal Energy Utilization in Klamath Falls (PDF 6.5 MB)
Presented by John W. Lund - Geo-Heat Center - Airborne Geophysical Results (PDF 9 MB)
Presented by Tien Grauch - US Geological Survey - Sedimentary Basin Geothermal Resources (PDF 6.4 MB)
Presented by Paul Morgan - Colorado Geological Survey - Geothermal Leasing on Federal Lands (PDF 2.1 MB)
Presented by Kermit Witherbee - US Forest Service - AMASOND Ground Loop Geoexchange System (PDF 2.4 MB)
Presented by Laszlo Varga - AMASOND - Geothermal Heating of Large Commercial Greenhouse (PDF 1.6 MB)
Presented by James C. Witcher - Masson Geothermal Greenhouse - Geothermal Investment Opportunites in Ouray (PDF 1.4 MB)
Presented by Ralph Risch - Pagosa Springs Geothermal Resource Evaluation (PDF 4.9 MB)
Presented by Michael Galloway - ERO Resources
Tuesday April 8th, 2008
- Colorado School of Mines R&D Programs in Geothermal Energy (PDF 448 KB)
Presented by Dag Numendal - Ground Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps (PDF 849 KB)
Presented by Richard Mignogna - Colorado Public Utilities Commission - Geothermal Heat Pumps Utility & Consumer Market Review (PDF 505 KB)
Presented by Paul Bony - Delta-Montrose Electric Association - Regulation of Geothermal Resources in Colorado (PDF 105 KB)
Presented by Kevin Rein - Update on BLM's Geothermal Program - Leasing/Development (PDF 556 KB)
Presented by Kermit Witherbee - U.S. Department of the Interior - Governor's Energy Office Commercial Buildings Programs (PDF 1,080 KB)
Presented by Jeff Lyng - The Governor's Energy Office - Developing Geothermal Resources in Colorado and the Western Markets (PDF 950 KB)
Presented by Daniel J. Fleischmann - Ormat Technologies
Resources from the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS)
- CGS geothermal website section
- CGS publications on oil and gas well bottom-hole temperatures:
Materials from the Colorado Geothermal Investors’ Forum held on Friday, October 19, 2007
Presentations:
- Assessing Colorado's Geothermal Potential to Generate Electricity (PDF 9,429 KB)
Presented by Matt Sares - Colorado Geological Survey - Overview of Steps in Developing a Geothermal Resource (PDF 833 KB)
Presented by Gary Thompson - Sierra Geothermal - So You Think You've Got a Geothermal Resource - Now What? (PDF 1,145 KB)
Presented by Paul Borphy - EGS, Inc. - Overview of National and State Permitting Issues (PDF 6,312 KB)
Presented by Kermit Witherbee - BLM, and Duance Spencer - Colorado BLM - Stranded Geothermal: Exploring Colorado's Oil and Gas Fields (PDF 11,024 KB)
Presented by Peter Gross - Energy America Geothermal - Small Scale Project Success (PDF 4,921 KB)
Presented by Halley Dickey - United Technologies Corporation - What Project Development Companies Are Looking For (PDF 3,331 KB)
Presented by Daniel Fleischmann - ORMAT Nevada, Inc. - Mt. Princeton Geothermal - Utilizing Power Tube Technology (PDF 6,646 KB)
Presented by John Held - LGC Management, and Fred Henderson - HENDCO Services - Hybrid Heat Pump Investment Opportunity (PDF 7,150 KB)
Presented by Paul Bony - DMEA - Geothermal Investment: An Equity Provider's Perspective (PDF 325 KB)
Presented by Josh Haacker - US Renewable Group
Twitter
Facebook