An investigation of the technical and economical feasibility of using low temperature geothermal sources in Colorado

A preliminary feasibility study of utilizing low temperature geothermal sources in Colorado to heat buildings has been completed. It is concluded that the technology for using geothermal sources to heat building exists and that the cost of heat will be between $2 and 5 per million Btu delivered. Although geothermal heating is more expensive than heating with natural gas at current prices, it is considerably less expensive than heating by means of current solar thermal conversion methods. It is, therefore, recommended that an exploratory well be drilled in a place such as Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to define the thermal, chemical, and geological characteristics of a geothermal source in detail as a first step toward utilization of geothermal energy on a commercial scale in Colorado.