Colorado’s Geothermal Energy Legislation

In May 2022, Colorado enacted legislation encouraging of the use of geothermal energy by providing it similar treatment to solar energy. The legislation expressly includes geothermal as a renewable resource that utilities may use to achieve the goals set for in the state’s GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap.

Among its other terms, the legislation limits government installation fees, and allows the department of public health to certify geothermal as “pollution control equipment,” while allowing geothermal projects to qualify for county and municipal bonds. It also allows for the creation of community geothermal gardens, similar to the solar gardens that the state already permits.