Geothermal energy sought in CO mountains

One more triumph on the renewable energy front is amongst Coloradans. Mt. Princeton Geothermal LLC personnel seek to use technology to access geothermal resources in the area. In May personnel held a generating electric power with geothermal heat meeting in Chaffee County – one of many emerging in the state’s mountain communities.
Fred Henderson III, is a Chaffee County property owner and chief scientist for the company that desires to build a facility to help generate the power. Surface water is pumped to the surface and used to heat fluid that powers a turbine. The geothermal water is returned into the ground.
"The size and scope of the facility depends on the reservoir of hot water we find," Henderson said. "We are thinking a 10 megawatt facility is a reasonable objective."
Colorado School of Mines students are assisting Henderson in surveying the geothermal potential around Mt. Princeton. Raser Technologies, of Provo, Utah, uses technology developed by UTC power, a subsidiary of United Technologies. Raser Technologies may provide the technology necessary to create the facility. Mount Princeton Hot Springs is partnering in the venture and may install the units of technology. Funding for the facility is undetermined.
The move comes one month after Denver was proclaimed a Solar America City by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE also awarded gave a grant of $200,000 to the capital city to push adoption of solar energy technologies. Similarly, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society held the Colorado Renewable Energy Conference in Pueblo in June, and will hold their month meeting July 24 at the Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden. The topic is Choosing Renewable Energy Investments. For more information visit: http://www.cres-energy.org/