County adopts geothermal regs

Sets standard for future commercial developments

The Gunnison Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday, November 4 adopting a set of regulations governing the development of commercial geothermal power production in the county.

Several companies have considered such a development in the past in areas near Waunita Hot Springs and Tomichi Dome east of the city of Gunnison. In response to a geothermal lease nomination, the Bureau of Land Management issued a report in 2010 concluding, “It is our determination that there is a high potential for development of the geothermal resource, specifically for electrical generation …”
Although no plans for a development have come to the county, its Community Development Department started drafting the new regulations more than a year ago. Much like the county’s regulations for the development of oil and gas, the officially titled “Regulations for the use of Geothermal Resources for Commercial Generation of Electricity” gives potential developers a standard but doesn’t tell them how to meet it.
Any future development of a geothermal power plant that’s less than five acres will pay a $2,500 application fee and will be reviewed as a minor impact development, while those plants occupying more than five acres would pay $4,500 and undergo a more rigorous major impact review.
Among the things the planning commissioners were asked to consider in making their recommendation was the amount of impact a geothermal development might have beyond the pad where the power would actually be produced.
Former Planning Commission chairman Ramon Reed told the commissioners he wished the Planning Commission during his tenure had been more stringent in how it applied standards to the oil and gas industry.
Reed reminded the commission that while a small facility would have a relatively small footprint, as the facility grows it could require infrastructure to be built much farther afield. He pointed out that the wells that tapped the heated water would be some distance away from the power plant, requiring pipelines and roads. More production would mean more wells, Reed said.
Gunnison resident and environmental advocate Butch Clark asked the Planning Commission to consider all manners of impact, including even the microbes that rise to the surface with the near-boiling water. “It’s important to consider these types of things early,” Clark said. “We just don’t know all of what’s down there.”
At a meeting before the Board of County Commissioners, Gunnison resident Steve Schechter said he had gone over both the proposed geothermal regulations and the current oil and gas regs.
“There is a huge disparity between them,” Schechter said. “These proposed regulations require a ground water study, while there is no such requirement for oil and gas,” he said. “Renewable energy like geothermal will have the most impact in reducing climate change, yet it has to go through extra hoops.
“Water quality is important and it should be part of the geothermal regulations but it should also be part of oil and gas regulations. There is more of a chance to pollute the water there, especially if fracking is involved,” he said.
Gunnison County Electric Association CEO Mike McBride told the commissioners GCEA supports the development of renewable energy in the county. “We would encourage you to make it as easy as possible,” he said. “Whether it is us or someone else developing renewable energy, we support it and can help if they need assistance in connecting to the grid.”
Commissioner Phil Chamberland said, “As new information becomes available we can adjust the regulations. We don’t know what we don’t know.”
Commissioner Jonathan Houck said, “I like that the Gunnison sage grouse element has been addressed and it appears to me there are no glaring holes. Changes can be made if we receive new information about geothermal. We want to put these in place to provide opportunities.”
“Regulations are indeed living documents,” concurred Commissioner Paula Swenson. “It appears we are all comfortable and we should move ahead with a resolution.”
The final vote to adopt the regulations was unanimous.