BC Union of Municipalities Geothermal Presentation
Geoscience BC will present their Direct-Use Geothermal Roadmap to the BC Union of Municipalities as part of their community workshop series. This presentation will introduce municipal leaders to the potential of direct-use geothermal energy development in their communities.
This presentation marks the first in a planned series of community workshops designed to support the release of Geoscience BC's Direct-Use Geothermal Roadmap. The session will be facilitated by lead researcher Dr. Catherine Hickson, Principal of Tuya Terra Geo Corp, who led the comprehensive study identifying 63 BC communities with geothermal potential. Municipal leaders will learn about the significant underutilization of direct-use geothermal resources in British Columbia and gain insights into the practical steps required for community-scale geothermal development.
Attendees will be introduced to the roadmap's practical guidelines covering geothermal surface exploration, land acquisition, permitting processes, and the drilling and testing requirements for direct-use applications. The presentation will highlight the 11 highest-potential regions identified in the study, including Clarke Lake, Sloquet Creek, and locations in the Okanagan and Kootenay areas. Municipal representatives will learn about various direct-use applications beyond traditional hot springs, including space heating, aquaculture, greenhouse operations, and snow-melting systems.
This event is particularly significant as the study revealed critical knowledge gaps at the community level, with direct-use geothermal often not considered in municipal planning processes. The presentation aims to fill these gaps and provide municipal leaders with the information needed to evaluate geothermal opportunities in their jurisdictions. Following this inaugural presentation, Geoscience BC plans regional workshops to provide more detailed, location-specific guidance for communities interested in pursuing geothermal development projects.