Full Title: The Colorado Geothermal Frontier
Author(s): Anna Littlefield and Edikan Udofia
Publisher(s): The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
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Description (excerpt):
Historically, resources in Colorado have been deemed suitable only for ‘direct-use applications’ but the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) geothermal webpage explains that this assumption is based on a lack of study rather than empirical evidence. In July of 2024, the CGS, in collaboration with the Energy and Carbon Management Commission and Teverra, released an extensive report highlighting a history of geothermal across Colorado, the resources that exist in different geologic settings, the new technologies that may expand access outside of thermal anomalies, economic implications, as well as impacts and considerations for development.
Recognizing this potential, the ECMC is taking steps towards regulating the development of geothermal energy and has recently established a set of rules for deep geothermal drilling. On August 12, 2024, the commission unanimously endorsed a 59-page addition to its rulebook, detailing the procedures for permitting and enforcing deep geothermal activities. These regulations, akin to those for oil and gas sectors, empower the ECMC to approve or reject permits based on health and safety criteria, while also providing local governments with a participatory role in the process.