Person wearing a yellow cap and yellow shoes holding a digital device near hot spring water in Rico.
Person measuring hot spring water temperature with a digital thermometer near rocks by a body of water.

Working Together to Explore Rico’s Geothermal Potential

Rico residents, industry experts, academic partners and consultants have come together in a newly revitalized coalition.

Rico Geothermal Coalition (RGC) envisions using the benefits of the natural geothermal resources that we have available as a cleaner path forward, creating more independence and freedom for all of us.

Featured
Community Geothermal Project Highlights of the Last 4 Months
Community Geothermal Project Highlights of the Last 4 Months

Hello visitors and Rico geothermal enthusiasts. Our project continues to develop and gain momentum in the last 4 months with the fresh funding from the Colorado Energy Department. The Rico Geothermal Coalition has been focused on rolling out the Geothermal Community Engagement process and has started to peek local interest in the possibility of district heating for the town.

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Rico Geothermal Coalition Origin Story
Rico Geothermal Coalition Origin Story

The 2004 Rico Community Masterplan included a vision for geothermal development and an active committee was in place until 2018 when efforts faded due to lack of funding.

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Aerial view of a valley with colorful autumn foliage, the small town of Rico, and surrounding mountains.

We Seek to Represent the Residents of Rico

  • Icon of people sitting around a circular table

    Community Voice

    We want to understand and communicate the needs of the community

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    Model & Design

    RGC will model and design geothermal solutions for community benefit

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    Workforce

    Keeping it local by developing and implement training & apprenticeships

  • Orange circular icon with gear and network design

    Deployment

    Obtaining permits and building once plans and funding are in place

Please take our Geothermal Community Survey
(coming May 2025)

A natural hot spring with orange mineral deposits flowing into a rocky river surrounded by green foliage and hills.

Rico Hot Springs - on the Dolores River

Coalition Members

Featured
Teal Stetson-Lee
Teal Stetson-Lee

Teal Stetson-Lee is the Chairwoman for the Rico Geothermal Coalition and the Community Liaison for the Rico Geothermal Project.

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Todd Gillman
Todd Gillman

Todd Gillman indulged his dirtbag fantasies in the 90s, when he dropped out of college and moved to Ketchum, Idaho.

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Allyn Svoboda
Allyn Svoboda

Retired Electric Utility Engineer

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Holly Brunkal, PhD
Holly Brunkal, PhD

Holly Brunkal is an instructor at Western Colorado University in Geology and the Engineering Partnership programs.

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Masami Nakagawa, PhD
Masami Nakagawa, PhD

Associate Professor, Mining Engineering

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Dave Bulson
Dave Bulson

Professional Land Surveyor and Owner of Bulson Surveying

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Michelle Haynes
Michelle Haynes

Assistant Town Manager, Mountain Village

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Thomas Bulk
Thomas Bulk

Thomas Bulk is a registered architect and the sole proprietor of Honest Architecture LLC.

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Group of people in an outdoor setting taking notes with mountains in the background.

Want to Get Involved?

Join us at one of our upcoming community outreach events, virtual cafés or follow us on Facebook. We encourage all Rico community members to make their voice heard.

Follow us on Facebook

Follow our Facebook page for updates on what the coalition is working on, progress reports and community event notifications.