Washington Gas proposes Silver Spring network geothermal pilot; tenants, clergy and community groups press for approval

Washington Gas Light (WGL) presented a proposed pilot thermal energy network for a roughly 250‑customer footprint in Silver Spring, primarily Northwest Park Apartments, Victory Oaks senior housing and a set of single‑family homes. The company asked the commission to approve its budget and a reconcilable rider that would recover pilot costs from nonparticipating customers; it also proposed a 10.5 percent return on equity as an incentive for the investment.

WGL’s presentation

Aaron Khan, director of policy and special projects at Washington Gas, introduced the Silver Spring proposal and said the utility had sought sites that met the Warmth Act criteria—greater than 80 percent low‑ and moderate‑income (LMI) customers and existing gas service. Khan said the pilot area’s targeted customer mix is about 250 customers inside roughly one square mile and that the site design includes two bore fields, roughly 180 boreholes 500 feet deep, about 9,500 feet of ambient loop and a pump house. WGL selected CDM Smith as its engineering contractor for the conceptual design.

Costs and incentives

WGL presented a conceptual budget range of about $60.8 million before incentives and roughly $43.3 million after currently estimable federal and state incentives (IRA/ITC and MEA assistance). The utility told the commission it would seek IRA/MEA funding and the investment tax credit…