USA, Idaho: Long History of Direct Use of Geothermal Heat in Boise

Boise�s �Geothermal Gem� (SHRA)

In 1927, Thomas Edwards tapped into the Treasure Valley�s geothermal waters in northwest Boise to extend the region�s short-growing season. Geothermal waters allowed Edwards to cultivate a prodigious amount of sweet potatoes and earned him the nickname �The Sweet Potato King.� Photo Credit: Garnette (Edwards) Monnie. Photo Date, 1935.

Since the late 19th century, Boise�s geothermal energy has been an economic and cultural driver of the city�s development. A variety of entrepreneurs capitalized on the region�s active geologic inheritance to provide Boiseans with cheap and sustainable energy and, in doing so, pioneered the first geothermal heating district in the United States. Forty years later, Boiseans continued to develop new applications for the use of geothermal water. In 1930, Thomas F. Edwards established Edwards Greenhouse, the first commercial greenhouse to use geothermal water.

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