Herzig: State Law Prohibits It

Geothermal Plan

Dropped By City

By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

ONEONTA – Enthusiasm about municipal geothermal heating, pursued warmly last spring, has turned cool with the weather.

City Mayor Gary Herzig and Town Supervisor Bob Wood have become aware of a state Health Department regulation prohibiting placing geothermal pipes alongside drinking-water mains.

“I don’t think Egg was aware of the regulations,” said Wood.  “I think he was very enthusiastic about cities using geothermal energy.”  The town did not contract a feasibility study, he said, but some Southside businesses are conferring with Egg.

For Herzig, the finding came out of a $10,000 feasibility study by consultant Jay Egg that found the project unfeasible.  “I certainly would never have signed a contract if I had known the purpose of the project was strongly forbidden by the state,” the mayor  said.