Aspen geothermal exploration heats up

The city of Aspen is planning to drill a hole 1,000 feet deep in a gravel parking lot this fall to explore whether there is enough heat underground to provide affordable and sustainable carbon-neutral energy.

The test well, projected to be 6 to 8 inches wide, would test whether temperatures beneath Aspen are between 90 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, as preliminary studies in recent years have suggested.

The parking lot next to Prockter Open Space, across from Heron Park, has been selected for the project. Aspen's Open Space and Trails Board, which operates the gravel lot, first must approve the project.

If an approval is granted, the operation would get under way in September and last between 30 and 45 days, according to officials. Situated just west of the old mines on Smuggler Mountain, work at the test site would target hot groundwater without disturbing any heavy metal deposits in the area, they said.

“We wanted to pick a site that is city-owned and as close to the old mine workings as possible without being in them,” said John Kaufman of Rocky Mountain Water Consulting, which is advising the city. “We are looking to find out the temperature of the water, the water chemistry, like if it is hard water or alkaline and we hope not to find heavy metals in the water. We have to do it near but not in the old mines because drilling into the old mines can be very dangerous but since we heard the water was hot while the miners were working down there, it’s good to be close to them.”

Well over a century ago, Aspen became the first city west of the Mississippi River to harness hydroelectric power, according to local historians. So it is fitting that Aspen help blaze the trail for municipal geothermal energy, which is promoted as a renewable and eco-friendly form of power.

The labyrinth of tunnels, stopes and shafts from Aspen's mining heyday could make for an ideal reservoir to heat and cool groundwater, according to a 2008 city geothermal feasibility study.

The total project budget is set at $200,000 with $50,000 of that coming from a Governor's Energy Office Grant and the rest of the funds coming from the city's electric and water utility revenues.

Officials noted the test site is only to determine geothermal potential and it does not mean it is a permanent site or that the city would then automatically begin pursuing geothermal resources. The parking lot will be closed to the public but parking at Herron Park will remain a viable option.

Aspen is exploring geothermal as part of its commitment to the Canary Initiative, which established a goal to reduce the city's greenhouse gases by 30 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

Editor's note: The city of Aspen is inviting the public to a neighborhood informational meeting planned for today, Monday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Herron Park. Then on Thursday, July 14, at 5 p.m. the city’s Open Space and Trails Board meets at the Sister Cities room in City Hall and the board will also take public comment about the project.

River Name / Location	Stream flow, ft3/s	Gage height ft
Gore Creek
At Upper Station, Near I-70 Twin Bridges	n/a	4 ft
Booth Creek	n/a	4 ft
Abv Red Sandstone Creek At Vail	199	6 ft
At Mouth Near Minturn	225	7 ft
Beaver Creek
At Avon	21	2 ft
Lake Creek
Near Edwards	79	1 ft
Cross Creek
Near Minturn	98	4 ft
Homestake Creek
At Gold Park	127	5 ft
Eagle River
East Fork Eagle River Near Climax	n/a	2 ft
At Red Cliff	30	3 ft
Near Minturn	234	4 ft
Wastewater Treatment Plant At Avon	671	5 ft
Below Gypsum	826	5 ft
Colorado River
Near Kremmling	402	4 ft
Near Dotsero	1,620	3 ft
Below Glenwood Springs	3,080	5 ft
Near Cameo	3,740	6 ft
Below Grand Valley Div Nr Palisade	2,160	5 ft
Near Colorado-utah State Line	4,080	4 ft
Near Cisco, Ut	4,100	3 ft
At Lees Ferry, Az	12,100	9 ft
Near Grand Canyon, Az	12,000	9 ft
Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma, Az	997	10 ft
Roaring Fork River
Abv Lost Man Cr Near Aspen	n/a	n/a ft
Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen	53	1 ft
Near Aspen	77	1 ft
Near Emma	464	6 ft
At Glenwood Springs	1,150	3 ft
Hunter Creek
Near Aspen	57	2 ft
At Aspen	49	4 ft
Frying Pan River
Near Ruedi	111	2 ft
Crystal River
Abv Avalanche Crk, Near Redstone	610	2 ft
Arkansas River
Ef Arkansas R At Us Highway 24, Nr Leadville	46	3 ft
Near Leadville	85	5 ft
Below Empire Gulch Near Malta	156	3 ft
Below Granite	453	4 ft
Near Nathrop	451	4 ft
At Parkdale	469	3 ft