Geothermal Program Overview
Geothermal Resources in Colorado
Colorado has an abundance of geothermal resources and has established statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to decrease the state’s contributions to global climate change. Meeting these targets will require Colorado to invest in a variety of both new and existing energy technologies, including geothermal technology.
What is Geothermal Technology?
Geothermal technology taps into the natural heat found below Earth’s surface to provide heating, cooling, and electricity.Geothermal use generally falls into one of three categories: (1) heat pumps, which are shallow geothermal systems that provide heating and cooling; (2) direct use, where natural hot water is applied to tasks that require heat, such as warming buildings or pasteurizing food; and (3) electricity generation.
How Do We Access Deep Geothermal Resources?
Deep geothermal resources are generally accessed using a pair (or pairs) of wells. One half of the pair is the production well, which draws fresh, hot water from the reservoir for direct use and/or power production. The other half of the pair is an injection well, which returns spent, cooler water to the reservoir, where it is reheated by the Earth and can then be reused.
Opportunities in Colorado
All types of geothermal uses are applicable in at least some regions of Colorado (see the map below). Heat pumps can be used anywhere and come in many sizes, including small heat pumps that can be used to heat and cool homes instead of furnaces and air conditioning units. Heat pumps provide an outstanding opportunity to improve air quality and reduce contributions to climate change throughout the state. Direct use of deep geothermal resources is geographically limited to where hot enough water is; most regions of Colorado—other than the southeast corner of the state—show strong potential for direct use.
Geothermal electricity generation requires particularly hot resources that are still shallow enough to be reached by wells; the temperature of the geothermal resource determines the kind of power plant that must be built. Five areas of the state are immediately suitable for electricity generation using binary power plants:
- Upper Arkansas Valley
- Raton Basin
- Piceance Basin
- San Juan Basin
- An eastern hot spot in the Denver Basin
Other types of power plants that require higher temperatures may become suitable in select parts of the state as continued research and development lowers drilling costs.
Benefits and Impacts
Geothermal development in Colorado offers several environmental advantages:
- Lower overall impacts than any other power type, including wind and solar;
- Limited land use requirements;
- Minimal impacts on water quality and usage;
- Reduced ozone pollution;
- Climate change mitigation by decreased greenhouse gas emissions; and
- Support of a just energy transition.
Despite its strengths, geothermal development also poses certain but manageable environmental challenges that warrant careful consideration. These include potential for:
- Surface subsidence;
- Induced seismicity;
- Noise pollution from the operation of wells, pumps, fans, and/or turbines;
- Visual intrusion from well or powerplant infrastructure, and
- Thermal pollution, meaning the areas immediately around geothermal developments will become warmer as some heat escapes the water.
While these impacts require attention, established measures exist to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate their effects, ensuring responsible and sustainable geothermal development practices.
Information
Deep Geothermal Technology Summary
Buena Vista Informational Community Meeting (3/12/2025)
Geothermal Resources Act (C.R.S. § 37-90.5-101 — 37-90.5-111)
1300 Series - Deep Geothermal Rules
- Statement of Basis and Purpose
ECMC Reports
The following ECMC geothermal reports can be found in the technical library.
- Geothermal in Colorado: Resources, Use Strategies, and Impact Considerations
- Regulation of Geothermal Resources in Colorado: A Legislative Proposal
Regulatory and Policy Partners
Division of Water Resources
To contact DWR, submit questions under the FAQ.
Colorado Energy Office
https://geothermal.colorado.gov
Please submit all inquiries concerning State incentives, programs, or general questions to this email address: ceo_geothermal@state.co.us