Clearfield Borough Hears Proposal on Geothermal Project

CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Borough Council heard a proposal on Thursday night regarding geothermal energy.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Alliance for Cooperative Innovation gave the presentation.

They noted that the Alliance is part of a national alliance. According to their literature, PA-AFCI was formed and chartered as a cooperative organization to establish and lead a transformation in facilitating community revitalization, economic development, critical infrastructure building and repurposing.

According to Frank L. Patterson, president of PA-AFCI, the Alliance’s model is that of a public-private partnership. He noted that this was a viable alternative to address infrastructure issues.

The organization of the Alliance for Cooperative Innovation starts at the national level, goes down the state, then the municipality and finally individual projects.

Initially, the proposed installation would focus on the downtown area. To be included, the borough would pay dues of $300.

There are three design configurations for of geothermal energy. These include direct use and district hearing systems, electricity generation and geothermal heat pumps.

Water in the system would come from the Susquehanna River through an open loop system. The water that would go back into the river would be plus or minus 2 degrees from its intake temperature.

The system could be used for heating and air conditioning.

One proposed benefit include utility savings and flat-rate (fixed fee) service costs on a monthly basis. Service rates would be based on a fixed-per square foot fee per year. That cost could potentially chance based on the age of the structure the system was run through due to retrofitting.

The borough could potentially make money from that fee.

Another proposed benefit that was discussed by the presenters involved running fiber optics underground. If the borough would go the geothermal route, the fiber optics would be installed when the ground was being dug up for geothermal installation.



If Clearfield Borough Council decided to join the PA-AFCI, a letter of intent of memorandum of understanding would need to be drafted and approved. This is intended to determine the business case of to finalize a specific strategy and funding. Work done under this step is performance based.

From there, if council wishes to disengage from the project, there are no costs incurred. However if the project is a go, then a fee will be charged to the borough.

Bill Armstrong of the Clearfield Borough Planning Commission added his thoughts on the proposal.

“We have an asset … the Susquehanna River. The opportunity here is to extract energy from the river.”

Armstrong also said it presents the borough an opportunity to generate revenue.

“This is a defining moment for the borough,” said Armstrong. “There isn’t any downside I can see.”

C. Alan Walker also said that he supports the proposed project.

Council President Jim Leitzinger asked the representatives when they needed an answer by. Patterson stated whenever the borough is ready to make a decision.

“There’s a lot of homework for us to take home and study over the next few weeks,” said Leitzinger.

Currently, PA-AFCI has a working model in Warren. Patterson also noted that the project is in an expansion phase within Warren.

Impact Pennsylvania Inc. is also a member of the PA-AFCI and worked on the Warren project. The borough contracted with Impact Pennsylvania Inc. for consulting services on as-of-yet unannounced project(s).