BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. (AP) – The village trustees want to learn more about the possibility of tapping geothermal energy bin groundwater as a source of heat. A hydrogeologist has told officials there is a potential source of geothermal energy beneath in the ground beneath the community.

“I want Bellows Falls to be the first village in the eastern United States to be heated by geothermal energy,” said Village President Cathy Bergmann said. “I don’t know if it’s there or not, but if it is, I’d like to move forward or else put the idea to bed.”

Officials are planning a meeting for Wednesday to hear more about the possibilities. Meddie Perry, of VHB-Pioneer, an environmental consulting firm from Vergennes, was asked to map the well recharge areas. During the course of his work Perry determined there might be a stream of hot water running beneath the village.

Bergmann also said she wanted to put resources into developing solar and wind energy.

“With the crisis the world and country is facing there will be all kinds of money available if we’re lucky enough and we wanted to develop this to the degree I am dreaming of,” Bergmann said.

Bergmann, who grew up in Bellows Falls, she said there is a pond over the source of hot water that never freezes. She said children called it a “magic pond.”

Municipal Manager Jim Mullen said developing energy sources can be expensive, but it makes sense to see what’s possible.

“It’s a large project and we are in the very, very, very, early stage,” said Mullen. “But they do this a lot in Europe. We are not breaking any new ground here. It’s worth exploring.”