Idea is to research territory's potential for geothermal energy
An attempt to measure geothermal energy potential could soon have researchers in Yukon drilling a hole one kilometre deep near the Takhini Hot Springs.
The idea was discussed Friday at a conference called the Future of Arctic Entrepreneurship in Whitehorse.
Maurice Colpron, head of Bedrock geology at the Yukon Geological Survey said "the first (test well) would actually be a little shallower, around 500 metres and that would be sometime this summer. Our plan would be to follow up with a second well that could be as deep as a kilometre. Hopefully that could happen in fall, or perhaps next winter."
Conference delegates also heard a presentation Friday about geothermic energy potential in southern Yukon. John Ebell works with a research group called Barkley Project Group, which has been been working with the Kaska Dena Council to assess the potential for geothermal energy, working with test wells.
"There is water down there that's hotter than the water in your home's hot water tank," he told the audience. The group has plans for a 300-metre deep test well near the community of Ross River.
Geothermal Energy Potential of Canada, Stephen Grasby (Geological Survey of Canada)
