The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners has issued a Request for Proposals seeking qualified development teams to explore and develop geothermal energy projects on state trust land in Alamosa, Rio Grande, Saguache, Las Animas, and La Plata counties.

The RFP invites experienced and financially capable applicants to plan, permit, finance, explore for, and construct a geothermal project, including an electric generation facility, on state trust land. The parcels are located in geothermally prospective areas in Southwest Colorado, many within proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure.

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Proposals will be evaluated based on the applicant's financial bid, project development experience, access to financing, projected project timeline, projected development footprint and surface impacts, community engagement plan, and water plan.

Proposals are due Sunday, September 20, 2026, and must be submitted through the State Land Board's online application process hosted by Efficient Markets.

The RFP is part of the agency's broader efforts to explore emerging energy opportunities aligned with its mission to generate consistent revenue for public schools while ensuring the long-term health and productivity of Colorado's trust lands. The State Land Board is currently reviewing tracts in other counties for geothermal compatibility and anticipates additional RFPs in the future.

The full RFP is available at https://app.efficientmarkets.com/salegroup/6564