Rico still heats almost entirely with propane and firewood, but decades-old boreholes point to a real, untapped geothermal reservoir under the town.
If we harness this resource for the community, Rico becomes the smallest town in Colorado running a community-managed geothermal project. Rico is on the threshold of becoming a replicable, self-reliant thermal energy model for small towns across the Mountain West.
What it could include
District heating for homes and civic buildings, replacing propane deliveries with heat we already own.
Year-round growing at 8,827 feet, with warmth drawn straight from the ground.
Safer walkways and work areas through a long San Juan winter.
A cascading use of the resource that keeps the water and the benefit in Rico.
The Rico Geothermal Coalition is hard at work planning an exploratory monitoring well for late fall or winter. It will allow for the most comprehensive pre-feasibility study yet, and gather the first concrete subsurface data, the foundation for everything that follows.
Securing funding is essential so we can install the most optimal well for conclusive results, studies and other possible future plans by this October or November.
To accomplish these ambitious and probable goals we need the right resources and the right partners to see it through. The Rico Geothermal Coalition and subsurface geoscience partner Teverra have built strong technical and community partnerships around this work.
Secured in Colorado Energy Office funding, regional energy grants and in-kind donations.
Raised so far in local monetary donations from neighbors here in Rico.
The remaining gap we are working to close through direct fundraising for this phase.
We have launched our official fundraising campaign through the personal networks of 15 members of the Rico Geothermal Project core team: RGC, the drilling team, Teverra, our subsurface geology and engineering partner, and Western Colorado University.
Please consider donating to immediately support funding the completion of our monitoring well and our long-term objective to heat the Town of Rico with our own heat beneath our feet.
As part of the geothermal efforts, the Rico Geothermal Coalition hosts a monthly Virtual Rico Geothermal Café on Zoom, the last Thursday of every month from 8 to 9am. Hot morning beverages encouraged.
These meetings are open to the public and include a presentation from a local or industry expert, plus space for organic conversation and geothermal-related questions.
“Hot springs and why they matter: long-term considerations for cascading geothermal uses in Rico”
Jessica Meath, The Hotspring Association
Held on Zoom, last Thursday of the month. All neighbors welcome.
[ add Zoom link ]
Ask for an inviteAll donations are tax deductible through the Rico Land Collaborative 501(c)(3), and we can provide a donor receipt.
Donations to the Rico Geothermal Coalition campaign go straight to completing the monitoring well.
Rico Land Collaborative
PO Box 147
Rico, CO 81332
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