Green Lecture Series to present discussion on geothermal energy Nov. 20

HOUGHTON -- The 2014 Green Lecture Series will present "Using Mine Water for Geothermal Energy in the Keweenaw" from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, in G002 Hesterberg Hall, Michigan Tech Forestry Building.

Presenters will be Richelle Winkler, assistant professor of sociology and demography, Michigan Tech Department of Social Sciences, and Jay Meldrum, director, Michigan Tech’s Keweenaw Research Center.

The event is free and open to the public. A $3 donation is welcome. A discussion and reception with coffee, tea and refreshments will follow the lecture.

Billions of gallons of "warm" water are stored in the mine workings that underlie much of

the Keweenaw Peninsula. Michigan Tech's Keweenaw Research Center uses this water for geothermal heating and cooling. Could expanding mine water geothermal heating projects to local communities provide a sustainable, affordable, and community-centered source of local energy?

The public is invited to join in a discussion of local opportunities for using water from mines for geothermal heating and cooling, which can be a very efficient energy source.

Left inset photo: Richelle Winkler, Michigan Tech assistant professor of sociology and demography, leads a discussion with the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) core leadership team on Oct. 3, 2014, in the Portage Lake District Library. A Michigan Tech graduate student team and community members discussed HEET's vision statement and goals. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Right inset: During the Nov. 3 HEET meeting, Jay Meldrum, director of Michigan Tech’s Keweenaw Research Center, reports on a meeting in Marquette concerning the impending closing of the Presque Isle Power Plant and how it will affect Upper Peninsula residents' electric bills. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

Editor's Note: Richelle Winkler and her students gave a presentation on the feasibility of using mine water for geothermal energy in Calumet at CLK last year. Read Laura Smyth's guest article on that presentation, "Minewater Geothermal on the Keweenaw Peninsula."