§ 37-90.5-103. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Direct use” means the utilization of geothermal resources for commercial, residential, agricultural, public facilities, or other energy needs other than the commercial production of electricity.

   (1.5) “Geothermal by-products” means dissolved or entrained minerals and gases that may be obtained from the material medium, excluding hydrocarbon substances and carbon dioxide.

2. “Geothermal fluid” means naturally occurring groundwater, brines, vapor, and steam associated with a geothermal resource.
3. “Geothermal resource” means the natural heat of the earth and includes:
   1. The energy that may be extracted from that natural heat;
   2. The material medium used to extract the energy from a geothermal resource; and
   3. Geothermal by-products.
4. “Hot dry rock” means a geothermal resource which lacks sufficient geothermal fluid to transport commercial amounts of energy to the surface and which is not in association with an economically useful groundwater resource.
5. “Material medium” means geothermal fluid as well as any other substance used to transfer energy from a geothermal resource.

Source: L. 83: Entire article added, p. 1419, § 1, effective June 10. L. 2010: (1) amended and (1.5) added, (SB 10-174), ch. 189, p. 811, § 5, effective August 11.