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Utility promotes geoexchange with own HVAC company What started as Delta-Montrose Electric Association’s plan to market an energy-efficient heating and cooling system to its members grew into a successful geothermal heat pump contracting business on Colorado’s Western Slope. The co-op’s Co-Z Energy Plan offered members long-term loans to finance complete ground-source heat pump systems, including installation and all equipment, for up to 30 years. However, with few local HVAC contractors familiar with the technology, DMEA decided that starting its own company was the best way to jumpstart the market. Intermountain Energy opened for business in 1998 and installed 26 systems that year. The number of installations has grown almost exponentially each year for a total of 300 systems. Some of those systems were installed for other area co-ops. Grand Valley Power, Gunnison County Electric, and San Miguel Power Association have joint marketing agreements with Intermountain. The company’s business came primarily from residential customers but is now attracting more light commercial customers. Montrose County government installed a 120-ton geoexchange system in its new Health and Human Services building in 2003. |