SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) announced the confirmation of the transfer of IGSHPA from Oklahoma State University (OSU). Following a June vote by the OSU board of regents to approve the transfer of IGSHPA to GEO, the GEO board of directors, its staff, and OSU worked tirelessly to develop a plan for a smooth transition. The result of these efforts has created a partnership of trade associations representing the ground source/geothermal heat pump industry, poised to become an integral part of federal and state energy policies going forward.
With this new structure, GEO and IGSHPA will work together to grow the industry with GEO continuing to deliver advocacy and be a strong voice at federal and state levels for policies to address building decarbonization and beneficial electrification. IGSHPA will continue to develop and deliver training and standards that protect the integrity of the technology and ensure industry professionals have the skills, certifications, and accreditations to safeguard the proper design and installation of systems. Coordination with geothermal heat pump industry stakeholders and partners will be a key component of the effort going forward.
“OSU is confident that IGSHPA will be well-served in its new home at GEO,” said OSU Assistant Dean Ed Kirtley. “The natural synergy between these two organizations will be further enhanced to create great benefits for the members of IGSHPA. GEO is a natural fit as a new home for IGSHPA and the geothermal heat pump industry is poised to capitalize on this new combined effort.”
“This has been a long time coming and I am pleased we were able to accomplish this historic transition to an aligned industry association representing the entire breadth of stakeholders across the industry and a singular focus on increasing market adoption,” said Douglas Dougherty, president and CEO of GEO. “The efforts of these organizations can now be connected to inform and support one another. This cohesion represents a new chapter for the industry and will set the stage for growth for decades to come.”
“This transition of IGSHPA from OSU to align with GEO is truly a leap forward from the ‘Better Together’ theme announced a few years back, to bring the GHP Industry together,” said John Thomas, CEO of WaterFurnace International and chairman of the board of directors of GEO. “IGSHPA will continue to focus on its historical mission of technical training, standards development, and research. The newly established IGSHPA board will operate independently as an affiliate of the GEO Organization, with a focus on serving the interests of the GHP industry membership. This is a positive new chapter in the path forward to continued growth for the GHP Industry. I would like to thank Ed Kirtley and the OSU Staff for their stewardship of IGSHPA and their confidence in GEO to support this transition.”
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