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Box Elder County approves Rototherm geothermal lease allowing subsurface access under county roads
Summary
The commission approved agreement 26-42 and a recording memorandum with Rototherm Energy to lease subsurface rights beneath county roads for a waterless geothermal project; land-use permitting and site plans remain subject to later state and county review.
The Box Elder County Commission voted to approve agreement 26-42 and the associated memorandum with Rototherm Energy Corporation, allowing the company to lease subsurface rights beneath county roads in a corridor west of Honeyville through west of Brigham City.
Michael Dabbs of Rototherm, who described the company's system, told commissioners, "We're not your traditional geothermal. We operate on a much lower temperature." County staff and the attorney's office reviewed the lease and a memorandum that will be recorded to establish the lease. Scott Lyons, Community Development, clarified that the lease grants only subsurface use rights; separate state and county land-use permits and site-plan reviews will govern where wells and surface facilities are located.
Commissioners and Rototherm discussed the company's typical surface footprint (about 3 to 4 acres per production pad) and how much area a pad can serve. The commission approved the agreement and memorandum by motion and voice vote. The approval allows Rototherm to proceed to permitting and more detailed land-use review; the company emphasized it has been meeting with landowners and will need later approvals for transmission lines and surface facilities.
