Wyoming State Profile
Background
Wyoming's geothermal resources are concentrated in the northwest corner of the state, which is the site of some of America's most famous natural wonders: the geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. Here the presence of abnormally high heat flow and an abundance of shallow, high-temperature hydrothermal systems are associated with the Yellowstone Caldera.
Elsewhere in the state, due to the great depth of many Wyoming basins, ground water at elevated temperature exists beneath vast areas. Geologic structures such as folds and faults create pathways for geothermal fluids to reach shallow levels. High-temperature geothermal hotspots outside of sensitive environmental areas could prove suitable for electricity generation, while direct heating and cooling may be viable across the state.
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Current Development
The vast majority of Wyoming's geothermal activity occurs in the Yellowstone area, where the world-renowned geyser fields and hot springs are protected in America's oldest National Park. Yellowstone contains 100 hot spring groups and as many as 10,000 individual geothermal features, and has an estimated total flow of 49,000 gpm. A second protected area is Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, where the state uses 135°F water to operate a free bathhouse as the centerpiece of the park.
Geothermal development in Wyoming has thus far been dominated by the direct use of thermal waters for therapeutic bathing and recreation. The best known of these areas, outside of Yellowstone, include Thermopolis at Hot Springs State Park, hot springs near the town of Cody, and the resort area of Saratoga Springs. There is a single application of geothermal energy for space heating at a residence in Thermopolis, and one greenhouse application at Countryman Well near Lander. The Jackson National Fish Hatchery in Jackson uses geothermal water in a brood stock hatchery for trout. Geothermal heat has also been used to melt snow from highway bridges and ramps in Cheyenne and Laramie.
Proposed Development
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One geothermal resource area that may be capable of yielding high-temperature (above 150°C) water, aside from Yellowstone National Park, has been identified in Wyoming. This is the general area of Jackson Hole which includes eight hot springs. Along the northern end of Jackson Hole near Yellowstone National Park there exists the possibility of volcanic and magmatic activity which may lead to hydrothermal reservoirs. Outside these scattered areas of high thermal gradients, it is likely that geothermal development will require much deeper drilling, such as that performed for oil and gas exploration.
The Cody and Thermopolis hydrothermal systems, both located in the Big Horn Basin, are two low-temperature (below 100°C) geothermal resource areas that have been investigated in detail. The Cody hydrothermal system extends from the DeMaris Hot Springs west of Cody, to seven miles south of Cody along the Horse Center anticline. Maximum temperatures in the convecting part of this system may reach 43 to 54°C at depths of 850 to 1,600 feet. The Thermopolis hydrothermal system covers approximately 50 square miles along the crest of the Thermopolis anticline, and thermal waters exist here at shallower depths. The principal surface discharge of the hydrothermal system is in Hot Springs State Park. Six private flowing wells north of the state park have temperatures of 115 to 130°F.
The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated that Wyoming's geothermal resources have no potential for electricity generation, and 4,793 MWt (megawatts thermal) of potential for direct use.1 Some of Wyoming's most promising hydrothermal systems exist within protected areas, preventing access to the resources for the development of industrial projects. However, some shallow resources may be tapped for direct-use applications in which thermal energy is transferred directly from geothermal fluids.
Technical Capabilities
Wyoming's coal resources are among the richest in the world, and the state possesses a wide variety of other energy sources. Renewable energy efforts are currently concentrated on harnessing wind energy, and little work has been done to harness Wyoming's geothermal potential. In the 1980s studies were done for the Western Area Power Administration to evaluate the geothermal potential of resources near Thermopolis for electricity generation.
Incentives
With the passage into law of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the National Production Tax Credit (PTC) was extended to include geothermal facilities in operation by January 1, 2008. The PTC is an incentive of 1.5¢ per kWh for electricity produced from renewable sources during the first ten years of a new facility's operation.
In 2003, the Wyoming legislature added sales of equipment used to generate electricity from renewable resources to the list of types of sales or leases which are exempt from the state excise tax. This exemption will be repealed on June 30, 2008.
State Working Groups
Geothermal State Working Groups are networks of individuals typically including geothermal developers, utility representatives, local officials and policymakers, and other energy stakeholders within a given state or region. Geothermal State Working Groups are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's GeoPowering the West Initiative and often work in conjunction with the State Energy Office of the group's respective state to accomplish networking conferences, analyze regulatory issues, and assess the progress of local geothermal projects.
The Wyoming Geothermal Energy Working Group contact is Ed Werner, Business Development Director, Converse Area New Development Organization, (307) 358-2000, ewerner@candowyoming.com.
List of Projects
Geothermal projects operating in Wyoming include the following:
- Granite Creek Hot Spring Pool/Spa
- Huckelberry Hot Springs Pool/Spa
- Astoria Mineral Hot Springs Pool/Spa
- Auburn Hot Spring Pool/Spa
- Jackson National Fish Hatchery Aquaculture
- Bronze Boot Spa Pool/Spa
- Cody Athletic Club Pool/Spa
- DeMaris Hot Springs Pool/Spa
- Fountain of Youth Pool/Spa
- Hot Springs State Park Pool/Spa
- Paynes Fountain of Youth RV Park Pool/Spa
- Van Norman Residence Space Heating
- Chief Washakie Plunge Pool/Spa
- Steele Hot Springs Pool/Spa
- Countryman Well Greenhouse
- Jackalope Plunge Pool/Spa
- Frank Nixon Residence Pool/Spa
- Hobo Pool/Spa
- The Saratoga Inn Pool/Spa
- East Grand St. Bridge Snowmelt
- I-80 16th St. off ramp Snowmelt
Details regarding the location and geothermal energy capacity of each project can be found at the Wyoming State Geothermal Projects website, http://geoheat.oit.edu/state/wy/wy.htm, developed by the Oregon Institute of Technology's Geo-Heat Center.
State Contacts
State Energy Office Director
Tom Fuller
Manager, State Energy Programs
(307) 777-2804
State Energy Program Manager
Dale Hoffman
SEP Program Manager
(307) 777-2805
The Wyoming Business Council administers the State Energy Program in the state.
Wyoming Business Council
Mineral, Energy and Transportation Division
(307) 777-2800
Wyoming Geothermal Energy Working Group
Ed Werner
Business Development Director
Converse Area New Development Organization
Tel: (307) 358-2000
Bureau of Land Management
Wyoming State Office
Converse Area New Development Organization (CANDO)
Department of Geology and Geophysics
University of Wyoming
Environmental Protection Agency
Region 8
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
Wyoming Public Service Commission
National DOE Contacts
U.S. Department of Energy
Curtis Framel
Senior Energy Project Officer
Golden Field Office
Golden, Colorado
(303) 275-4872
U.S. Department of Energy
Sandy Glatt
Senior Energy Project Officer
Central Regional Office
Golden, Colorado
(303) 275-4857
1Estimate of electric power potential from United States Geological Survey Circular 790-Assessment of Geothermal Resources of the United States; Estimate of thermal potential from United States Geological Survey Circular 892-Assessment of Low-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States; Thermal Installed Capacity and Annual Energy data from Oregon Institute of Technology-GeoHeat Center