Here’s the release from Governor Ritter’s office (Tyler Smith/Todd Hartman/Lance Shepherd):
Gov. Bill Ritter today praised a project that will provide geothermal heating and cooling for the State Capitol building with the help of a U.S. Department of Energy Recovery Act grant. Colorado’s Capitol, which opened in 1894, will be among the first in the nation to benefit from a geothermal system.
The DOE grant will provide $4.6 million for an open-loop geothermal system that will save the state an estimated $95,000 in heating and cooling costs in the first year alone.
“This is a great project to highlight the significant potential that geothermal energy has here in Colorado, and it serves as a shining example of how the New Energy Economy creates jobs, diversifies our energy resources and bolsters energy security,” Gov. Ritter said. “By tapping into the steady temperature below the earth’s surface we will be able to heat and cool the Capitol building with a reliable and clean source of renewable energy at a reduced cost to the people of Colorado.”
The total cost of the project is an estimated $6 million, with $1.4 million funded by the state through Certificates of Participation and a lease-purchase agreement with Chevron. Under the agreement Chevron will guarantee utility savings are sufficient to make the annual lease-purchase payments.
“Today’s announcement is another example of how the Recovery Act is benefiting Colorado and states across the country. This project will help save taxpayers money, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and support Colorado’s role as a leader in the clean energy economy of the future,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The first phase of the project, which began last week, will drill a well deeper than 900 feet down into the Arapahoe Aquifer, with a second phase beginning in the spring that will include HVAC upgrades and drilling a second well. Water will be pulled from the aquifer to take advantage of consistent 55-degree temperatures that can be used to heat the building in the winter and cool the building in the summer.
The project follows a similar instillation in which a geothermal ground source heat pump was installed at the Governor’s Residence in 2009. The instillation has shown considerable energy savings by reducing the natural gas load by 70 percent and the electricity by 15 percent at the Residence.
More coverage from Brighter Energy (James Cartledge):
The first phase of installation began last month, drilling a well more than 900 feet down into the Arapahoe Aquifer, and is expected to continue through into the spring of 2011 with heating and air conditioning upgrades and the drilling of a second well. The project will see water pumped from the underground aquifer, which offers consistent temperatures of 55 degrees, which can be used to heat the building in winter and cool the building in the summer…
A similar geothermal system was installed at the Governor’s residence last year, which has reduced the building’s natural gas use by 70% and electricity consumption by 15%.
