The Colorado State Land Board has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit interest in geothermal energy exploration and development on state trust lands. Respondents may include any combination of available lands in their submissions. Detailed information about eligible lands, leasing processes, and key requirements for proposal submission is provided below.

Background:

The Colorado State Land Board manages an endowment of assets held in perpetual, intergenerational public trusts for the financial support of Colorado’s public schools and other public institutions. To advance this mission, the agency has identified geothermal development as a strategic opportunity to enhance recurring long-term revenue generation, promote diversified revenue for the trusts, and support green energy generation in Colorado.

Colorado presents a compelling case for geothermal investment. Once considered viable only for direct-use applications, the state’s geothermal potential is now being reevaluated through new data and updated geothermal gradient mapping, which indicate significant promise for power generation. Areas such as the Rico Dome, Mount Princeton, Waunita Hot Springs, and the San Luis Valley demonstrate high heat flow anomalies, with documented subsurface temperatures exceeding 100°C at relatively shallow depths.

Furthermore, Colorado has been ranked by MIT as the nation’s top state for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) potential. Together, these factors establish Colorado as an emerging leader in clean, baseload geothermal power—an untapped resource capable of delivering 24/7 renewable energy with a minimal carbon footprint.

**ALL SURFACE LANDS OWNED BY THE COLORADO STATE LAND BOARD ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER THIS RFI. LANDS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION DOES NOT INDICATE THAT STAFF HAS APPROVED ALL ELIGIBLE LANDS FOR GEOTHERMAL DEVELOPMENT AND/OR GUARANTEED THAT A GEOTHERMAL PROJECT IS APPROPRIATE AT EACH SITE.

THE STATE LAND BOARD WILL CONSIDER LANDS NOMINATED IN THIS PROCESS FOR A FUTURE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE STATE LAND BOARD MAY CHOOSE NOT TO LEASE NOMINATED LANDS AT ITS DISCRETION.

USE THE INTERACTIVE MAP BELOW TO EXPLORE AVAILABLE LANDS.

Additional layers can be toggled via the Map Legend. Click here to download shapefiles of all available lands.

Respondents must provide a comprehensive statement of interest and capability addressing the following areas:

1. LAND DESCRIPTION

Identify the specific lands and provide a legal description (Section, Township, Range) of the tracts you are interested in developing for geothermal purposes.

2. PROJECT TYPE

Describe the type of geothermal development you propose to pursue (e.g., electricity generation, direct-use application, enhanced geothermal system).

3. PROJECT TIMELINE AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Provide detailed information regarding your anticipated project schedule and technical assumptions, including:

• Estimated exploration timeline and the type of exploration work planned.
• The year in which you anticipate applying for necessary state and county permits.
• Your assessment of the depth range where you expect to encounter geothermal resources.
• If exploration is successful, the projected timeline for bringing a facility into production.

4. EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Summarize your background in geothermal development, including:

• Previous projects in Colorado.
• Other geothermal projects completed or underway in the United States or internationally.

5. AGENCY SUPPORT

Provide recommendations on how the Land Board can best assist you in moving your proposed project forward.

6. COMMERCIAL TERMS

• State the annual per-acre rental rate you consider reasonable for an exploration lease.
• (Optional) Provide input on how you would prefer to see royalty payments structured for a geothermal production lease (e.g., percentage of gross sales from electricity generation, flat fee per megawatt sold, or another mechanism).

Please Note:

The State Land Board is seeking qualified respondents to help shape the future of geothermal development on state lands. Responses to this RFI will inform the Board’s decision-making on whether to advance nominated tracts to participate in a competitive leasing process, the types of projects that the State Land Board might consider on these tracts, and provide insight to help shape the State Land Board’s geothermal production lease.