Boardman Eyes Oregon’s Geothermal Future as Midwest Project Secures Major Funding

While a $14 million geothermal pilot project was recently announced for Indiana County, Pennsylvania, energy experts here in Boardman are watching closely. The project, funded by that state’s Department of Environmental Protection, aims to tap into the earth’s stable temperatures for heating and cooling buildings—a technology with potential echoes in our own backyard.

“Geothermal isn’t just about hot springs and volcanoes,” said local engineer, Mark Cheney, who has consulted on renewable projects along the Columbia River. “The core concept of using the ground’s constant temperature is applicable almost anywhere. For a community like ours, with major industrial energy users and a focus on sustainable agriculture, it’s a conversation worth having.”

The Pennsylvania initiative will focus on retrofitting public buildings, a strategy that Morrow County officials note could be a model for cost-saving here. With Oregon’s own ambitious clean energy goals, securing state or federal grants for similar pilot programs is becoming a priority for local leaders.

“We have unique geology and energy needs,” stated Boardman City Councilor, Ana Flores. “Seeing other regions invest in these technologies prompts us to ask, ‘What’s possible for Morrow County?’ We’re already a hub for wind and solar; perhaps geothermal for climate control is a piece of our future puzzle.”

No formal proposals are currently on the table, but the news from across the country has sparked discussions at the Port of Morrow and within the city’s economic development committee about exploring Oregon-specific opportunities to harness the earth’s natural energy.