Colorado Town Builds Geothermal Network to Secure Economic Future Beyond Coal
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Hayden, Colorado has started constructing a geothermal network for its new business park, offering reliable, cost-effective heating and cooling while helping diversify the local economy as the town transitions away from coal.
📈 One key stat: The 1,000-feet-deep boreholes maintain a steady temperature of approximately 51-64 degrees year-round, making the geothermal system twice as efficient as air source heat pumps during extreme weather.
💬 One key quote: “Geothermal works at night, it works in the day, it works whenever you want it to work,” Mendisco said. “It doesn’t matter if there’s a giant snowstorm [or] a giant rainstorm. Five hundred feet to 1,000 feet below the surface, the Earth doesn’t care. It just generates heat.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Hayden, Colorado, a small mountain town of about 2,000 residents, is pioneering a geothermal heating and cooling network for its new business district. The system uses dozens of 1,000-foot-deep boreholes to harness steady underground temperatures, providing efficient climate control year-round. This infrastructure project comes as the town faces the upcoming closure of its coal-fired power plant, which has long supported the local economy. Bedrock Energy, a geothermal drilling startup, is implementing advanced drilling techniques developed in the oil and gas industry to create this sustainable energy solution.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This geothermal network provides Hayden with sustainable, reliable energy that functions regardless of weather conditions or time of day. The system offers cost-effective heating and cooling that remains price-stable compared to fossil fuels, particularly during extreme temperature swings common in high-altitude locations. The project aligns with Colorado’s broader sustainability goals, opening access to grants and tax credits that make implementation financially feasible for small communities. Additionally, the network’s high efficiency reduces demand on electricity grids, addressing growing concerns about grid stress as power-hungry facilities like data centers continue to proliferate.
3️⃣ What’s next: The town plans to connect individual building systems into a larger geothermal network over time as the business park grows. This phased approach helps reduce initial capital costs while allowing for expansion. Colorado’s Energy Office continues to support similar projects across the state, with approximately 80 communities exploring geothermal options. The technology may also expand into electricity production through enhanced geothermal systems.
Read the full story here: Inside Climate News – A Geothermal Network in Colorado Could Help A Rural Town Diversify Its Economy
