Colorado geothermal commercialization program: community development of geothermal energy in Pagosa Springs, Colorado
[report]
B.A. Coe
1980
unpublished
DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. The t o w n of Pagosa Springs, C o l o r a d o occupies a s i t e a r o u n d t h e mineral h o t s p r i ngs t h a t I n d i a n people drawn t o t h e area c a l l ed "Pagosa , ' I nieani n g heal i n g waters. Since t h e e a r l y 19OO's, geothermal energy has been used t o heat b u i l d i n g s i n Pagosa S p r i n g s , C o l o r a d o . With
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... .S. Department of Energy funding a s s i s t a n c e , the t o w n i s now planning a d i s t r i c t heating system f o r i t s c e n t r a l business d i s t r i c t . H i s t o r i c a l l y a n d c u r r e n t l y , uneiriployrnent i n Archuleta C o u n t y has been higher t h a n t h a t o f the S t a t e , incoiiies dre lower t h a n t h e s t a t e w i d e average, d n d the County's dssesscd valudtiori d i f f e r s from t h e stdtewide dverdge. Discussions with planners, local o f f i c i a l s , a n d c i t i z e n s of t h e P a g o s a Springs area i n d i c a t e t h a t while they would n o t l i k e t o see extreme g r o w t h i n t h e a r e a , they would welcome increased economic v i t a l i t y . They b e l i e v e t h a t t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of geothermal energy can provide a helpful i n c e n t i v e t o new i ndustri a1 energy u s e r s . Note: The d a t a in t h i s r e p o r t were compiled d u r i n g t h e f i r s t p a r t of 1 9 7 9 . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A s p e c i a l thanks qoes t o Fred Ebeliny a n d Vicki Hayes, s t a f f of t h e Upper S a n Juan Regional P l a n n i n g Coiiiiiiission, for the inforination a n d help they provided f o r t h i s r e p o r t . The a s s i s t a n c e of a l l t h o s e r e s i d e n t s a n d o f f i c i a l s of Pagosa Springs a n d Archuleta County who c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e r e p o r t i s a l s o g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e d . And l a s t , b u t by no means l e a s t , thanks t o Or. W i 1 1 i am Bennett, c o n s u l t a n t , f o r h i s t e c h n i c a l a s s i s t a n c e , a n d t o Or. Richard T . Meyer of Western Energy P l a n n e r s , L t d . f o r h i s t e c h n i c a l review. The persons who provided inforination a n d a s s i s t a n c e leading t o t h i s compilation a r e nurrierous. Sincere a p p r e c i a t i o n i s extended t o a l l t h o s e w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d . A special thanks t o Richard H . P e a r l , f o r h i s f r e e l y c o n t r i b u t i n g from h i s s % o r e of knowledge of geothermal resources in C o l o r a d o ; t o S h i r l e y Denzler a n d Becky Andrews f o r t h e i r unti r i n g inanuscri p t t y p i n g a n d t o Cornel i a Sherry f o r her help in d r a f t i n g t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n s . i i CONTENTS
doi:10.2172/6809417
fatcat:jl6rlaojevallea6hfvzyvboei