GEOTHERMAL BUSINESS INCUBATOR James C. Witcher Witcher and Associates Las Cruces, New Mexico NMSU Geothermal Incubator Greenhouse, Las Cruces, New MexicoNMSU

BACKGROUND NMSU geothermal business incubator greenhouseNMSU Started 1986 Concept of Larry Icerman and Rudi Schoenmackers Construction funded by USDOE and State of New Mexico No funding for outreach and marketing from State of New Mexico since 1992 Lease fees applied to O&M

WHY USE GEOTHERMAL? DRAWBACKS 1)up front capital costs 2)approach unfamiliar 3)acceptance of risk 4)can require more effort ADVANTAGES 1)energy savings 2)energy costs stable NMSU geothermal business incubator greenhouseNMSU

PURPOSE OF GEOTHERMAL GREENHOUSING THE PRIMARY OBJECT OF GEOTHERMAL GREENHOUSING IS TO GROW THE BEST QUALITY CROP PROFITABLY WITH ENERGY SAVINGS A GEOTHERMAL WELL AND HEAT EXCHANGER REPLACE A CONVENTIONAL FOSSIL FUEL BOILER NMSU geothermal business incubator greenhouse NMSU

BUSINESS APPROACH RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND RESERVOIR CONFIRMATION ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY PERMITTING BUSINESS AND MARKETING PLAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN Alligator aquaculture, Mosca, Colorado NREL

MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS SOUND BUSINESS PLAN EXPERT GROWER AND GREENHOUSE MANAGER MARKETS TO SELL PRODUCT NMSU geothermal business incubator greenhouse NMSU

RESOURCE CO-LOCATION 1) suitable land 2) geothermal 3) fresh water 4) labor force

INCUBATOR BUSINESSES J & K Growers Masson Radium Springs Plant Propagation Technologies Flores de New Mexico Sorenson Cactus NMSU geothermal business incubator greenhouseNMSU Spurred creation of more than 50 acres of new greenhouse acreage

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE ANNUAL SALES (wholesale) $325,000 to $850,000 per acre EMPLOYMENT 4 to 8 employees per acre ENERGY SAVINGS $46,200/yr per acre 4,200 MMbtu/yr/acre at less than $1.50/MMbtu Natural gas $12.50/MMbtu (boiler inefficiency included) Masson Geothermal Greenhouse, Radium Springs, New Mexico Williamson, NREL

MASSON RADIUM SPRINGS FARM Potted plants and flowers Williamson, NRELMasson Geothermal Greenhouse, Radium Springs, New Mexico

SORENSEN CACTUS Ornamental cactus NMSU geothermal business incubator greenhouseWilliamson, NREL