Geothermal Network Powers Colorado Town’s Economic Future
▼ Summary
– Hayden, Colorado is seeking economic diversification as its coal-fired power plant, a long-time source of revenue and jobs, is scheduled to shut down.
– The town is developing a new business park that will use geothermal energy for heating and cooling, aligning with state sustainability goals and accessing financial incentives.
– Geothermal technology provides reliable, cost-effective climate control and supports local jobs and infrastructure to attract employers.
– Bedrock Energy is drilling 1,000-feet-deep boreholes to connect buildings to steady underground temperatures, which range from about 51°F to 64°F.
– Ground source heat pumps in each building will use this thermal energy to reduce energy needs for heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Nestled in the mountains of northwest Colorado, the town of Hayden is embracing a forward-thinking strategy to secure its economic stability and energy independence. Like many communities across the Mountain West, Hayden has long relied on traditional energy sources, but a major shift is underway. With the impending closure of a coal-fired power plant that for decades supplied jobs, tax revenue, and electricity, local leaders are turning to innovative solutions to power their future.
The town is now developing a new business park designed to run on geothermal energy, a move that aligns with statewide sustainability objectives while tapping into available grants and tax incentives. For a community of roughly 2,000 residents, these financial mechanisms make the project not just aspirational but achievable. Town Manager Matthew Mendisco emphasized that this initiative is about building foundational infrastructure that will attract employers, sustain local employment, and deliver dependable, affordable heating and cooling for generations.
A startup named Bedrock Energy is at the forefront of this transformation, utilizing advanced drilling methods borrowed from the oil and gas sector. The company is currently boring dozens of wells, each reaching depths of about 1,000 feet, which will form the backbone of a geothermal network for the Northwest Colorado Business District. These boreholes tap into the Earth’s consistent underground temperatures, which hover near 51°F close to the surface and gradually rise to around 64°F at the bottom.
A system of pipes running through each well will harness this thermal energy, providing efficient heating during winter and cooling in summer. This approach drastically cuts the amount of energy required to maintain comfortable indoor conditions. Inside each building, ground source heat pumps will fine-tune the temperature as needed, offering a flexible and eco-friendly climate control system that operates quietly and reliably year-round.
(Source: Ars Technica)
