Boise Housing Project Eyes Geothermal Heat for Residents

City estimates suggest the planned Lusk District development could cut residents' utility costs by up to 80% through a geothermal network extension.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Utilities

Photograph of an open excavation trench with insulated geothermal pipes laid toward new apartment frames, with dry tan hills behind under clear sky. — Boise plans to extend its geothermal heating network to the Lusk District, a $140 million affordable housing project where city estimates put resident utility savings as high as 80%. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Boise is planning the Lusk District affordable housing development, with a total cost of about $140 million, and would extend its geothermal heating network to serve it. City estimates put potential utility savings at up to 80% for residents.

Why it matters

The project ties affordable housing to a geothermal heating system that already serves about 100 buildings, including the Idaho State Capitol. Micron Technology's $2.5 million contribution closes a funding gap for the network extension, which supports Boise's goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

The city projects the Lusk District's geothermal network extension will connect more than 300 homes to underground heat drawn at 177 degrees Fahrenheit, within a $140 million project cost. The source does not specify the baseline for the 80% utility savings estimate or how the figure was calculated.

The players

Micron Technology

A major American semiconductor manufacturer that contributed $2.5 million to close a funding gap for Boise's geothermal network extension.

J. Fisher Cos.

The developer working with Boise's Housing Land Trust Program on the Lusk District affordable housing project.

The details

The geothermal heat would be provided free to residents of the Lusk District, a development being built by J. Fisher Cos. with Boise's Housing Land Trust Program. Boise's existing geothermal network, which heats about 100 buildings, would be extended to reach the new homes.

Spring: Construction on the Lusk District project is slated to start.
2028: Expected move-in year for Lusk District residents.
2050: Boise's target year for reaching carbon neutrality.

Roadmap

Boise's approach follows the model of Eversource Energy's Framingham, Massachusetts geothermal network, which serves roughly 140 customers. The Lusk District extension applies that utility-owned model to affordable housing rather than commercial customers.

If the Lusk District is completed as planned, future residents could see substantially lower heating and utility costs, with the city estimating savings of up to 80%. Current Boise residents outside the development would not be affected by this specific project.

The takeaway

Affordable housing and clean energy can be linked through shared infrastructure, lowering long-term costs for residents while advancing a city's carbon goals. Watching how the 80% savings estimate holds up once the development opens will show whether the model delivers in practice.