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Colorado budget has $9 million to expand geothermal outlay at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction

 

The geothermal energy system at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction will be expanded with aid of $9 million in state funding.

Gov. Jared Polis, who visited Colorado Mesa last September, called out the project in his State of the State address on Jan 17. He refenced his goal, first articulated on his campaign trail in 2018, of having a “clear path to 100% renewable energy by 2040.” To achieve this, he called for “continued development of clean energy technologies of the future, like geothermal.”

Beginning in July, Polis made geothermal his key initiative during his year as chair of the Western Governors Association.

Colorado Mesa also uses a geo-exchange system to heat and cool 70% of the buildings on campus. The technology reduces the carbon footprint of the 1.2 million square feet of building space. The university estimates it saves $1.5 million a year on energy costs.

With this success, the university plans to expand geothermal to all new construction on campus. It is also working with the municipality in Grand Junction to explore potential for expanding the system into the surrounding community.

 

Allen Best
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