In 1976 the OIT Geo-Heat Center began investigating the feasibility of developing a geothermal district heating system to serve the Klamath Falls downtown. The district heating system was installed in 1981. Startup and operational problems prevented reliable operation until 1991. In 1992, the city began marketing the district heating system to other buildings in the downtown area. By 2006 the system approached the original design capacity, and more growth is planned. After 25 years, the system is beginning to realize the economic benefits envisioned by the original feasibility studies in 1977