The City of Boise, Idaho is widely known for its tree-lined streets, vibrant downtown and rich history. But did you know that Boise has the oldest and largest geothermal system in the nation?
Geothermal energy is defined as a renewable resource powered by heat below the Earth’s surface.
“When we talk about geothermal in Boise, we are talking about something different than most of the rest of the country,” Amy Parrish, Boise State University’s sustainability director explains. “Our geothermal system is essentially tapping into a hot spring that sits under Boise — and that’s unique, it’s not something that a lot of communities have access to.”
Boise has been pioneering the use of natural energy since 1982, with Idaho’s Capitol Building being the only state capitol building to be heated by hot water.
Some notable buildings powered by renewable energy on Boise State’s campus include the Student Union Building, the Center for Visual Arts and the Administration building.
Taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, Boise State University aims to be entirely carbon neutral by 2050.
“It’s something not commonly recognized by students,” Parrish adds. “It’s actually a really cool thing.”
Despite the positives of utilizing geothermal energy for power, there are also downsides throughout the process.
When explaining the downsides of utilizing geothermal energy, Parrish brings up the likelihood of pipe leaks.
“Some of the pipes are older,” Parrish said. “If there’s a leak, they have to turn the system off to fix it, and then you don’t have heat.”
Boise State University has a contract set up with the City of Boise to be an interruptible service at the time of an emergency within the geothermal system.
As an interruptible service, buildings heated by geothermal energy at Boise State University have the ability to utilize natural gas if something were to go wrong.
“The way we deal with that at Boise State is we have backup heat in our buildings. If the flow was low for some reason, they could stop giving us service and prioritize buildings downtown,” Parrish said.
Another pitfall of utilizing geothermal energy can be long-term construction projects.
Starting in April 2024, the City of Boise began construction to replace aging sections of Downtown Boise’s geothermal system on 10th Street.
Audrey Dorosh has been working as a barista in the historic Idanha building, located on the corner of 10th and Main, for a little under a year. Dorosh makes a 15 minute commute from West Boise to work in the city.
The construction required a partial closure of the 10th and Main intersection, as well as a full closure on 10th between Main and Idaho. The City of Boise’s seven step plan to replace the systems is not expected to be completed until September.
“It would make the building rattle and shake for an hour or two at a time, causing headaches. Business was very slow, and sales went down quite a bit from it being more difficult for people to walk here,” Dorosh said, referring to the construction. “Since Guru Donuts is at the ground level of an apartment complex, a lot of people that lived here would come in and be like ‘I’m so annoyed the building is shaking.’”
The construction occurring on and nearby 10th Street is not only impacting the Idanha. A multitude of other small businesses and tenants are being affected by limited entry and parking options for customers.
Re-POP Gifts is another business that has been impacted by the construction. To make light of the situation, the shop hosted a ‘Road Construction Survival Party’ in late July.
“Yes, another road closure!” They state on their website. “The city of Boise is replacing geothermal lines along 10th Street, supporting clean, renewable geo-thermal energy for generations to come. However, replacing those lines comes at the cost of road closures, frustration, and inconvenience.”
Ryan McGoldrick is the program director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, an environmental nonprofit. Conservation Voters for Idaho aims to create a political environment that protects our natural environment.
“It can be frustrating to try and get around,” Ryan McGoldrick said. “But my general thought is, I think it’s worth it to become the type of city we all want to live in.”
On Aug. 10, 2024, Conservation Voters for Idaho hosted a table at Boise’s Soul Food Festival.
“We’re not the technical experts in the environmental industry — we’re kind of the organizers and the connectors,” McGoldrick explained. “Just being out there in the community and helping connect people to decision makers is really important.”
Conservation Voters for Idaho aims to educate and connect people both within the geothermal industry and outside of it.
“I think one of the exciting parts about it, seeing that it’s not just a beneficial source of clean energy in Boise, but something where we can set an example for other communities to follow,” McGoldrick adds. “They can come and learn from our experts and help implement a new clean energy source in other places.”
