Thousands of visitors to hot springs locations such as Colorado opt to relax and rejuvenate in a peaceful, natural setting. However, hot springs aren’t just known for relaxing and their health benefits. Others have shown interest in harvesting geothermal energy, a resource the state could harness as a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels currently used to generate electricity and heat buildings. According to the Western Governors Association, Colorado is one of five Western states holding 95% of the United States’ geothermal potential.
Why everyone is seeking geothermal energy
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort has been a tourist attraction for nearly 150 years, benefiting from mineral-rich water heated deep underground. With temperatures surpassing 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the resort holds some of the hottest water out of Colorado’s roughly 400 known hot springs, all relying on geothermal energy. That is why it is a possibility that Gov. Jared Polis has put it at the center of his climate strategy.
The “Heat beneath our feet” initiative was launched in 2022 to find ways to help the young industry establish a foothold in Colorado and other Western states. The Governor’s administration set up incentive programs and updated rules to support proposed geothermal projects. However, they did not anticipate catching the attention of Colorado’s hot springs industry.
What are others saying about the initiative?
The general manager of Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resorts, Thomas Warren, joined other hot springs owners and operators to demand changes to HB25-1165, a bill supported by the governor’s administration to streamline regulations covering underground carbon sequestration and geothermal energy development. Warren demanded that lawmakers add legal protections for hot springs:
“There’s so much pressure for green energy right now. We understand why it has to happen, but I worry sometimes that decisions are made hastily in order to meet climate goals. The last thing we need is to disrupt an entire hydrology that’s been operating for eons.”
Without the changes, a geothermal energy boom could damage resorts across Colorado, cutting off a vital economic engine for countryside communities. Even though the sponsors incorporated some of his ideas as amendments, Warren isn’t at ease yet. There are still many concerns to consider, especially regarding the origins of the natural hot springs.
The impact of the initiative
The origins of the state’s famous hot pools remain a mystery, especially the extent and shape of those networks responsible for the heated water. Even though hot springs operators rely on geothermal heat, they often can’t explain how it arrives at their resorts or other natural soaking locations on public lands. Some resort operators want more clarity on the process before geothermal energy projects start drilling across Colorado.
A proposal plans to build Colorado’s first geothermal power plant less than two miles from Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort. The operation would generate electricity by tapping a geothermal reservoir that backers suspect lies thousands of feet below the location. Mt. Princeton Geothermal, the company behind the proposal, claims the underground system is large enough to power thousands of homes and feed nearby hot springs.
Warren remained unconvinced. A third-party engineer was hired to model the power plant’s potential impact. His results indicated the project could cool and diminish hot springs at the resort. A similar project in New Zealand suffered the same consequences in the 1970s and 1980s. State lawmakers claim they’re determined to prevent similar consequences from bubbling up in Colorado.
The current amended version of the legislation now requires supporters of a proposed deep geothermal project to notify hot springs operators within a quarter mile of a proposed drilling site. Regulators are ordered to consider potential risks to existing hot springs and set up a system to recognize the historic hot springs under state law. As the legislation now awaits an initial hearing, we hope it will be enough to protect our historic hot springs.