Geothermal Energy Gaining Ground

I only have one meeting today. Good. I just left a meeting as part of a sub committee of the AEDA board of directors concerning PR. It's not that I don't like meetings, it's just that my mind gets a few pieces of fodder to chew on, and then automatic brainstorming overdrive takes hold. It hurts after a while.

Hot water= economic growth?

At one point in our meeting the discussion surfaced about the current planning stage of our towns geothermal project feasibility study. There are many ideas of what this might look like ranging from a vegetable grow dome that employs locals and sells fresh produce to the surrounding markets, to a geothermal-esc water feature for tourist to walk through and be educated. A kind of art museum meets science project feel. This kind of stuff gets my mind whirring. A project that effectively uses our natural resources for positive, economic, clean growth that aids in providing other positive benefits such as organic food to sell and consume....that's pretty cool!

It's nothing new, and we are not the only ones.

There are others in the southwest looking more intently into geothermal resources. Ouray is one of them. Here is an excerpt from a recent article published in Colorado Energy News about ouray taking a second look at utilizing there geothermal mineral springs.

The City of Ouray is examining the viability of harnessing power from its geothermal hot springs...Pagosa Springs is the only municipality in Colorado with a geothermal heating district. The system provides heat to schools, churches and other customers, as well as hydronicb heating for sidewalks during the winter. Other communities such as Steamboat Springs are investigating new uses for their geothermal resources, both for environmental and economic reasons.

If you have ever visited Pagosa Springs you know that we are known for our hot springs soaking facilities which are growing every year. I appreciate the springs for those uses. However I am very excited about being a part of a group like the Archuleta Economic Development Association that is thinking and acting creatively to leverage these geothermal resources in such a way to make a positive economic impact on the future of my town.