| 5/7/2008 9:05:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| A map of geothermal resources throughout the country shows Colorado ranks high, as do many other western states. Estimated subterranean temperatures are at a depth of six kilometers. Courtesy map
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Geothermal company wants to tap resource
By Ron Sering - Mail Staff Writer
About 80 people, including residents and investment bankers, attended a presentation Monday about generating electric power in Chaffee County using geothermal energy.
Mt. Princeton Geothermal LLC personnel want to use new technology to access abundant geothermal resources in the area.
"In the late '70s and early '80s, we took a look at alternative energy," Fred Henderson III, local property owner and chief scientist for the company, said.
"Back in the Nixon and Carter years, they put in place lots of tax incentives and subsidies to help develop these resources."
Companies, including AMAX, held leases on thermal wells in the area, but never developed them.
"During those days," Henderson said, "they were looking for steam. They didn't have the technology to use hot water for electricity. Now we do."
The process pumps naturally heated water to the surface where it is used to heat fluid that in turn drives a turbine generating electricity. The spring water is returned to 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."
Location of the site is undetermined.
"Hortense and Wright hot springs have the hottest water in the state," Henderson added. "They have water near the surface that's only a few degrees below boiling."
The initiative comes during renewed interest in energy alternatives.
In 2004, Colorado voters passed the Renewable Energy Initiative. It requires 10 percent of electric energy in Colorado be generated from renewable sources by 2015.
Henderson added, "High oil prices are here for a long time to come, and alternative energy offers immense potential if we are willing to invest in and develop it."
John (Hank) Held, of Geothermal Resources, said, "Because energy independence has become an urgent national security issue, Democrats and Republicans support it."
Joani Matranga, Chaffee County representative to the Governor's Energy Office, said, "The state is very interested in developing small, community based, renewable energy sources. Geothermal energy seems very promising."
Raser Technologies, of Provo, Utah, uses technology developed by UTC power, a subsidiary of United Technologies. The company has eight geothermal energy projects under development throughout the West.
"This technology can generate power from water temperature as low as 165 degrees," Mike Hayter, director of geothermal development for Raser, said. "The plant would be environmentally friendly with zero emissions."
Henderson continued, "This is a nonconsumptive resource. We can go to extreme depth to get water with little or no impact to existing water."
Mount Princeton Hot Springs, a partner in the venture, is considering installation of one of the generating units for its use.
As a first step, Colorado School of Mines students will conduct geophysical surveys.
"This is completely non-invasive research," Henderson said. "They will produce useful data for water studies of the area."
The group, based at Deer Valley Ranch, will be in the Buena Vista area beginning May 11, and will remain about two weeks.
Questions and inquiries may be addressed to Henderson at hendcos@msn.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Article comment by:
Mason Kass
It should be noted that Mines is not a partner in this project. Data is collected by the Department of Geophysics as part of the undergraduate curriculum for educational purposes only. The data and interpretations are public information, and are more than welcome to be used by Mt. Princeton Geothermal, LLC. However, the school does not necessarily endorse nor report on the efficacy of geothermal production in the area. This data was collected and interpreted by undergraduates, and should be regarded as such.
Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Article comment by:
Stephen Glover
Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is NOT a partner, nor do they own stock in Mt. Princeton Geothermal LLC. I'm not verifiably certain about Young Life, but reliable sources tell me that they also have not holding of the LLC stock. It appears that the news articles to this effect were a mis-interpretation of the LLC's desire for these entities to "buy in". At least Mt. Princeton Hot Springs definitely did not buy in, and all indications are that Young Life also declined. Someone should clarify this misleading notion that these two major players in Chaffee County own 80% of Mt. Princeton Geothermal LLC - a nice story for the LLC to let play but a gross distortion of the facts.
Posted: Friday, May 23, 2008
Article comment by:
Mike Hayter
I was misquoted. While there is a small generation facility in Chena, Alaska using geothermal water at 165F to generate electricity, that is not typical. This low temperature generation was achieved because the ambient and the cooling water temperatures are unusually cold at Chena (providing for a Delta T that enables the Organic Rankine Cycle process or binary process). I said that 165F was not typical and probably not achievable in most developments. Typically, Raser Technologies is seeking geothermal water tempereatures of 250F and higher for effective electricity generation. That is still cooler than other technologies.
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