The Colorado Energy office has announced the Round 1 Awardees in the Geothermal Energy Grant Program. The program is authorized by House Bill 22-1381 to spend taxpayer money that may (or may) support use of zero-emission, geothermal energy for electricity generation and space/water heating and cooling in homes, businesses, and communities.
The office issued Letter of Intent to Awards to three local projects. Two in Park County and one in Chaffee County. Park County received a total of $65,000 to be used by the nonprofit Girls Scouts of Colorado. They received an award of $35,000 for the Tomahawk Ranch Project Scoping Study in Bailey. The taxpayer money will be used to support a feasibility study to explore geothermal energy and benefits at the camp. The second award issued to the girls is for $30,000. This money will be spent on studying the design of the feasibility study of the above award. This means they may receive taxpayer money for a feasibility study and then to study that study.
Meanwhile, over in Chaffee County, Mt Princeton Geothermal LLC has been awarded $500,000 of taxpayer money. This money will be to support drilling a confirmation well on state property by a private entity to see how hot the water is. For the testing to begin, there are some legal issues that need to be completed.
The Letter of Intent to Awards is not a finalized award according to the Colorado Energy office. The projects will still need to meet state contracting requirements, timelines, project permitting and relevant public engagement processes.
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