Hayden, Colorado, a small former coal town, is building a geothermal heating and cooling network for its new business park, aiming to attract companies while cutting energy costs.
Phil McKenna and Jake Bolster report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The town is drilling 1,000-foot-deep boreholes to tap steady underground temperatures, reducing reliance on fossil fuels for heating and cooling.
- State grants and tax incentives are making the project financially feasible, with plans to expand the system as the business district grows.
- Officials see geothermal as a way to relieve stress on the electricity grid and support broader energy efficiency goals in Colorado and nationwide.
Key quote:
“We’re creating the infrastructure to attract employers, support local jobs, and give our community reliable, cost-effective heating and cooling for decades to come.”
— Mathew Mendisco, Hayden town manager
Why this matters:
By replacing fossil fuels with geothermal, Hayden could lower local energy costs, reduce emissions, and strengthen community resilience against extreme weather. As the geothermal network expands alongside the business district, officials are looking at a double payoff: easing pressure on the local grid and nudging Colorado closer to broader energy efficiency goals. For residents, it’s a reminder that energy transitions can be tangible, local, and, maybe most importantly, good for both wallets and the planet.
Read more: Labor and environmental groups can both win in the clean energy transition. Here’s how.
