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).

Geothermal Working Group Meeting Minutes
January 31, 2007 (PDF 66 KB)
April 8, 2008 (PDF 184 KB)

Geothermal Working Group Meeting Presentations

• 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:
  • Publication 1
  • Publication 2

Materials from the Colorado Geothermal Investors’ Forum held on Friday, October 19, 2007
Forum Agenda (PDF 232 KB)
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