The University of Colorado Boulder has secured $675,000 in funding from Colorado's state government to assess the viability of implementing geothermal energy solutions on its campus. This investment, announced on Friday, supports CU Boulder's initiative to potentially introduce on-site geothermal electricity generation across millions of square feet of its facilities.
Geothermal energy, which harnesses the Earth's subterranean heat, is poised to enhance renewable energy production at CU Boulder. The university is set to conduct two distinct feasibility and design studies to explore this sustainable energy source.
Governor Jared Polis highlighted the significance of this initiative in a recent statement. "Geothermal energy, the heat beneath our feet, is an underutilized resource that can save people money on energy and improve air quality," he said. "Colorado is already a national leader in low-cost renewable energy, and now with these grants, we are supporting more geothermal energy across the state."
These efforts align with Colorado's broader environmental goals, which include achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and fostering economic growth through stable, well-paying jobs in the green energy sector.
The funding received by CU Boulder originates from Colorado’s Geothermal Energy Grant Program, designed to enhance geothermal technology usage throughout the state. The university's grant is part of a larger $7.7 million allocation awarded to various geothermal projects across Colorado on the same day.
CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano expressed gratitude for the state support, noting the potential impact of the studies. "Geothermal energy has tremendous growth potential for application in the United States, and we are grateful to the state for this funding that will help us further explore the application of both geo-exchange and geothermal resources for the campus," DiStefano said. "The proposed studies will advance CU Boulder’s energy and climate action goals as we seek to reduce climate impacts for the benefit of Colorado residents, CU Boulder students, faculty and staff, and the local and regional community."
These initiatives are in line with CU Boulder’s updated Climate Action Plan, released in April, which sets ambitious targets to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050.
The larger of the two studies, supported by nearly $500,000, will investigate the potential for a geo-exchange system at the Williams Village residence halls. This system would leverage natural ground temperatures for heating or cooling, potentially replacing the current reliance on steam and fossil-fueled heat. The second study, which received approximately $175,000, will assess the feasibility of utilizing deep geothermal resources to generate both heat and electricity for the campus, potentially paving the way for cogeneration plants.
CU Boulder plans to initiate these studies in the coming months, aiming to explore innovative energy solutions that could significantly enhance the campus's sustainability efforts.
Chris Ewing, CU Boulder’s Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Sustainability, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming projects. "We are excited to begin work on our geothermal electricity generation scoping and community district heating design studies," Ewing stated. "We are thrilled to begin working with the Colorado Energy Office, RMH, Eavor Technologies, NREL, Major Geothermal and the Boulder community on these important studies and are excited about the opportunities that may be generated from them."
