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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced the City of Ann Arbor has been selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to receive up to $588,000 to design a community geothermal heating and cooling system. The Ann Arbor project will be a looped geothermal system paired with efficiency improvements, rooftop solar, and battery storage that covers at least 75% of the heating and cooling load and eliminates energy burden for 262 low-income households, a local school, a community mental health service center, and the city’s public works facility.

“Michigan is leading the nation in taking comprehensive action to combat the climate crisis,” said Dingell. “As the home of the auto industry and heart of American manufacturing, we know our state plays a critical role in creating a net-zero, clean-energy economy rooted right here in the Midwest. This project will support the creation of a community-scale geothermal system that will bring us one step closer to the city’s A2Zero plan to achieve carbon neutrality in Ann Arbor. I’m proud to see our city leading the way in the fight against the climate crisis and look forward to continuing to work with Mayor Taylor to bring federal funding to our communities to transition to renewable energy and a cleaner future.” 

"Ann Arbor is incredibly grateful for Representative Dingell's constant advocacy and for the Biden-Harris administration's firm commitment to help local governments combat the climate crisis,” said Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. “With this grant we will work hand in glove with the members of our Bryant community to design a community-scale geothermal system that would cover at least 75% of the heating and cooling load for 262 households, a local school, a County community mental health service center, and a municipal public works facility. The people of Ann Arbor, the City Council, and our amazing City staff, we are all taking enthusiastic and impactful actions to fight climate change. I see it every day. We can do a lot on our own, but with the support of the Administration, we will accomplish so much more!”  

“Supporting the design and deployment of geothermal heating and cooling will expand the uses of clean energy in decarbonizing our communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “With today’s announcements, DOE is providing the possibility of wider adoption of these geothermal systems which can go a long way in decarbonizing the building and electricity sectors.”

Using clean geothermal energy for heating and cooling can help American cities across the country meet energy needs, drive down costs, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Community-scale geothermal systems are relatively common outside the United States but have a comparably small presence domestically. These selections represent the first of two phases in a $13 million initiative to support the design and eventual deployment of community geothermal heating and cooling systems. Increasing the use of geothermal heating and cooling nationwide will contribute to President Biden’s goal of a net-zero economy by 2050. The projects are part of President Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.

For more information about Ann Arbor’s project click here. For more information about geothermal heating and cooling, visit DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office website.