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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 17, 2023 05:39 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joe Webster and Rep. Aaron D. Kaufer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Geothermal Energy Projects in Communities Near Abandoned Mines |
| Abandoned coal mines are found throughout our Commonwealth and often are flooded, resulting in hazards, pollution, and costly remediation measures that are almost always paid for by our constituents. What if we could change these hazards into benefits for our constituents? We will soon introduce a resolution to direct the Joint State Government Commission to study the usage of geothermal energy in abandoned mining locations. By way of background, geothermal energy uses the consistent heat output of the subsurface earth to create energy or regulate temperatures in residential, commercial, and industrial capacities. Existing mines could serve as thermal conduits—creating energy and effectively recycling a hazard into an energy source—simultaneously creating jobs, helping the environment, and revitalizing local communities in the process. This would be an innovative application of this technology, and in pursuing it Pennsylvania would reinforce its status as a leader in the energy realm while turning a liability into a major asset. This study will assess the feasibility of such technologies and issue recommendations and findings to the House of Representatives. Please join us in supporting this resolution. |
Introduced as HR185