Colorado wants to build more geothermal energy networks. But it needs to build the workforce first – KUNC

Report on Geothermal Energy Development in Hayden, Colorado: A Case Study in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Alignment

Introduction: Advancing Sustainable Development through Renewable Energy Transition

The town of Hayden, Colorado, is implementing a geothermal energy project that serves as a model for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative facilitates an economic transition away from coal dependency while promoting clean energy, creating decent work, and building resilient infrastructure. The project’s focus on renewable energy and workforce development directly addresses key global sustainability targets.

Project Overview: Geothermal Network and Contribution to SDG 7 and SDG 13

Hayden is developing a campus-wide geothermal energy network to provide carbon-free heating and cooling for a new business park. This initiative is a direct contribution to climate action and clean energy goals.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The network will supply renewable thermal energy to approximately 800,000 square feet across 20 commercial buildings. It is projected to reduce heating and cooling costs for tenants by 50-70%, enhancing energy affordability.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By replacing conventional energy sources with a carbon-free geothermal system, the project actively mitigates climate change, aligning with national and global decarbonization efforts.

The system’s technical specifications include:

1. Drilling a complex of boreholes up to 1,000 feet deep to access stable subterranean temperatures.
2. Circulating water through pipes between the borefield and the buildings.
3. Utilizing heat pumps within the buildings to exchange thermal energy for efficient indoor climate regulation.

Economic Diversification and Job Creation: Fostering SDG 8 and SDG 11

The geothermal project is a cornerstone of Hayden’s strategy to build a resilient and sustainable local economy as it transitions away from its reliance on the coal industry.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The initiative is designed to stimulate economic growth and create stable, high-quality employment.
  • The business park is projected to create 75 permanent jobs across various industries.
  • An additional five permanent jobs will be created for the maintenance and operation of the geothermal network itself.
  • The project provides a pathway for workers with transferable skills from the fossil fuel sector to transition into the green economy.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By diversifying its economic base and investing in clean energy infrastructure, Hayden is enhancing its economic resilience and creating a more sustainable community for the future.

Workforce Development and Education: Addressing SDG 4 and Future Industry Needs

The expansion of the geothermal industry in Colorado and nationwide highlights a critical need for a skilled workforce, presenting challenges and opportunities related to education and training.

• Current Workforce Source: The industry presently recruits skilled labor, such as drillers, from the oil and gas sector, leveraging their transferable expertise.
• Future Workforce Challenge: Industry experts express concern that reliance on this labor pool is not a scalable, long-term solution for rapid industry growth.
• Proposed Solution for SDG 4 (Quality Education): To address this bottleneck, industry groups propose establishing a network of “Geothermal Drilling Centers of Excellence.” These centers would partner with community colleges and unions to formalize training and create accessible pathways for new entrants, ensuring a sustainable talent pipeline and contributing to lifelong learning opportunities.

Policy, Partnerships, and Scalability: A Model for SDG 17

The success of the Hayden project and the broader growth of geothermal energy in Colorado are underpinned by strong policy support and collaborative partnerships, reflecting the principles of SDG 17.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project’s viability was enabled by a combination of state and federal incentives, demonstrating effective public-private partnerships.
  1. The state of Colorado has allocated over $23 million in geothermal incentives to communities.
  2. Governor Jared Polis’s “Heat Beneath Our Feet” initiative and supportive state legislation have catalyzed development.
  3. Collaboration between municipal governments, climate advocacy groups like Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER), and private energy companies has been crucial.
• Scalability and Replication: The Hayden model, supported by a favorable policy environment, is inspiring dozens of similar feasibility studies across Colorado. The town’s establishment of a municipal utility to operate geothermal infrastructure further signals a long-term commitment and a replicable model for other communities pursuing a just transition.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

     The article highlights that the geothermal network will provide “extremely efficient and low-cost heating and cooling” to businesses. It explicitly states, “Over time, we get to save them anywhere from 50 to 70% of their HVHC costs,” directly addressing the goal of affordable energy.

   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

     The entire project is centered on developing a “major geothermal energy network,” which is described as a “renewable, carbon-free technology.” This initiative in Hayden, Colorado, contributes to increasing the share of renewable energy in the local energy mix, moving away from a coal-based economy.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.

     The town of Hayden is actively diversifying its economy away from its “traditional coal economy” by investing in innovative geothermal technology. The article states, “The idea is to help Hayden weather economic disruption as the nearby coal mine and related coal-fired power plant shut down,” which is a clear effort to build a more resilient and diverse economy.

   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.

     A primary goal of the project is job creation. The article mentions that the business park was built “to help boost jobs” and that town officials “hope businesses moving into the development will create 75 permanent jobs in the community. An additional five permanent jobs will be tied to maintaining the geothermal network.” It also notes the potential for “high paying jobs” in the growing geothermal sector.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

     The article describes the construction of a “major geothermal energy network,” which is a form of sustainable and resilient infrastructure. This new infrastructure is designed to support economic development by attracting new businesses to the town’s new business park.

   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.

     The project involves building new infrastructure based on a clean and environmentally sound technology—geothermal energy. This initiative is a direct move towards sustainable industrial and community development, replacing reliance on fossil fuels.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.b: Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resilience.

     The town of Hayden is implementing a clear plan to build economic resilience in response to the closure of its coal mine and power plant. The geothermal project is a central part of this “coal transition project,” designed to ensure the community’s long-term sustainability.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

     The project in Hayden is part of a larger, statewide effort in Colorado to address climate change. The article mentions that the activity was spurred by Governor Jared Polis’s “Heat Beneath Our Feet” initiative and state-level bills, and that policymakers support geothermal as an “important climate solution” and a way to meet “climate goals.”

6. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

     The article discusses the workforce needs of the growing geothermal industry. It highlights the concern that the industry will “outgrow this ready-made skilled workforce” and mentions a proposal to solve this “workforce pipeline problem” by forming a “network of Geothermal Drilling Centers of Excellence” to partner with community colleges and offer credentials. This directly addresses the need for technical and vocational training to create a skilled workforce for new, green jobs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

   • Indicator: Percentage of cost savings on energy bills.

     The article provides a specific metric: the geothermal network is expected to “save them anywhere from 50 to 70% of their HVHC costs.” This can be used to measure progress towards affordable energy access (Target 7.1).

   • Indicator: Capacity of renewable energy infrastructure installed.

     The project’s scale is mentioned as being able to “heat and cool up to 800 thousand square feet across 20 buildings.” This quantifiable measure indicates the increase in the share of renewable energy (Target 7.2).

2. For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Indicator: Number of new, permanent jobs created.

     The article explicitly states the project’s job creation goals: “75 permanent jobs in the community” from new businesses and “an additional five permanent jobs” for network maintenance. This directly measures progress towards full and productive employment (Target 8.5).

3. For SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Indicator: Number of workers retrained or newly trained with relevant skills.

     While not providing a current number, the article implies this as a future indicator. It discusses transferring the skills of coal workers and the proposal to create “Geothermal Drilling Centers of Excellence” to offer “credentials” and make training “more accessible to industry newbies.” Tracking the number of people who go through such programs would measure progress toward Target 4.4.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kunc.org