Our Yampa Valley community is at a critical nexus point. We face a near-term energy transition away from coal-fired power generation at two major regional power plants, and we must ensure our region maximizes the benefits and minimizes the negative impacts of these changes.

If ever there was a time to step forward to influence the social, economic and environmental trajectory of where we live, it is now.

As explained in recent Steamboat Pilot & Today articles, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, or PUC, is in the process of determining the future use of Hayden Station as it ends coal-fired power generation to meet state goals. Hayden Station is owned by Xcel, and under consideration is how the Hayden Station transition will generate power without coal while still supporting workforce and community needs.

The Hayden Station is a central pillar of the Hayden economy, providing hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the economy each year. The potential risks of financial loss of revenue to Hayden School District, and local businesses and services, are sobering.

With change, however, comes opportunity. Defining Hayden’s next era through geothermal electric generation — which the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council sees as the preferred energy generation option for Hayden Station — assures continued local benefits to workforce and community needs.

Geothermal electric generation and storage is a reliable and cost-effective alternative to fossil fuel-generated electricity. This renewable energy technology utilizes deep geothermal energy, or heat stored in hot rock at depths greater than 500 meters, accessed using drilling techniques similar to those currently utilized in oil production.

Geothermal energy production does not generate carbon dioxide and provides reliable baseload electricity. It can take advantage of much of the existing Hayden Station infrastructure, avoiding industrial development of more Routt County land.

Notably, geothermal energy generation also creates heat as a byproduct, called cogeneration, that can be readily accessed, retained and used locally to heat buildings. As Yampa Valley residents and business owners know well, the costs of heating our buildings are considerable during winter months.

Being able to use “waste heat” to heat surrounding buildings would be a key benefit to the community most impacted by the energy transition. The town of Hayden, including the new business park, the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, and broader residences or commercial spaces in the community can use this cogeneration as an affordable alternative to current heating sources.

Pursuing geothermal energy at Hayden Station will create and sustain local  jobs. Because the steam generation paired with geothermal technology deploys the same skillsets as are currently required at Hayden Station, this technology would help assure local skilled jobs into the future. In Texas, newsworthy numbers of oil workers are helping build a renewable energy boom as geothermal energy companies employ oil and gas workers to dig wells in the same ways they were drilling oil and gas wells.

The goals of a just transition for Hayden Station are to supply the needed energy generation from clean, renewable sources while supporting workforce development and community needs. Geothermal energy generation accomplishes all three and very uniquely benefits the most impacted communities enduring the transition.

Now is the time to engage and communicate to the PUC that geothermal energy best serves our region. At a time when market volatility is profound, the idea of tying into the stability and long-term processes of the earth’s heat is a wise decision. Cogeneration (heat) supports community needs and our local workforce can fill roles that they’re well equipped for.

To express your support of clean renewable energy using geothermal generation, make a comment to the Public Utilities Commission. You can fill out the online comment form here, send an email to dora_puc_website@state.co.us or call 303-869-3490. Be sure to include the proceeding number “24A-0442E” in your comment so officials know which case you are referring to.

You can also make a three-minute public comment virtually at the hearing from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 28, or comment in person from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at the Hayden Center.

Michelle Stewart is executive director of the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council.