In Boise, Idaho, Geothermal Energy Heats Up Everyday Life

Geothermal energy's roots in America run deep. Before the Wright Brothers took flight and the first Ford Model-T rolled off the assembly line, residents of Boise, Idaho, were heating their homes with geothermal energy. Today, Boise’s system heats over 100 buildings and six million square feet in the downtown core and even pulls off some supercool feats—like melting snow off sidewalks in the winter. In Boise, you can wash your clothes at a geothermal-heated laundromat, swim in a geothermal-heated pool at the YMCA, and buy flowers grown in a geothermal-heated greenhouse. Tina Riley manages Boise’s geothermal system—the largest of its kind in the U.S.

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Guest: Tina Riley

Climate Initiative: Geothermal Energy in Boise, Idaho

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Discover real-world climate solutions that cut carbon emissions, boost the bottom line, and improve modern life. Each week, climate entrepreneur and author Josh Dorfman pinpoints proven playbooks, business models, and technologies accelerating the low-carbon economy in future-forward towns and cities. Hear from CEOs, Mayors, startup founders, policymakers, and other innovators addressing climate change head-on to shape a smarter, more sustainable future.