DENVER—The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is offering the first geothermal lease on federal land in Colorado during its Nov. 10 auction.
The BLM withdrew the lease from two previous sales after protests and questions about the impacts. Federal officials say an environmental review shows the lease complies with the BLM management plan.
The Denver Post reports that the BLM also approved conditions in the lease to protect water and wildlife.
The proposed lease is on 799 acres near Mount Princeton Hot Spring Resort in Chaffee (CHAY’-fee) County. A geothermal plant could tap into the hot water about 3,000 feet below Chalk Creek and use it to turn turbines.
The water at that depth reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
