Methane Recovery Project *
Craft & Agricultural Co-Operative
Bio-Diesel Production
Facility * Educational Eco-Tourism Complex
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Located
in The Great Smoky Mountains
Dillsboro,
North Carolina
www.GreenEnergyPark.org
Contact: Timm Muth –
Project Manager
(828) 631-0271 or (828) 507-1800 (cell)
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Overview
The Jackson
County Green Energy Park is located in
Dillsboro, North Carolina. Utilizing methane
energy recycled from our county's old landfill,
the park provides an ideal parternship of
sustainable economic, environmental, educational
and creative interests.
As a
cooperative incubator for our county's part in
the future green economy, the Jackson
County Green Energy Park provides our
county a valuable resource to develop
relationships between the public and local
farmers, artisans, and crafts people.
A
landfill methane recovery system captures methane
gas from the old Dillsboro landfill for use as a
fuel. The Jackson County Green Energy
Park is the first in the world to use methane gas recovered from
a landfill to fuel blacksmithing studios. The gas
will be used to provide process heat for a series
of blacksmithing forges, greenhouses, a biodiesel
refinery, pottery
studios (future), glass-blowing studios (future),
and a botanicals and agricultural products drying
facility. Existing buildings on site have been
recycled and refurbished to house the artisan
studios and refinery. By using the gas in this
fashion, the County will realize a wide range of
economic, environmental, and educational
benefits.
We hope
to be a model and provide encouragement for other
communities wishing to create similar projects.
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SEPTEMBER
2007 NEWS
The Blacksmith Studio at
the Jackson County Green Energy Park will
host a nine-hour intermediate blacksmith
course on three Thursday evenings -
September 6, 13, and 20 - from 6 until 9
p.m. Cost is $100. Those who would like
more information may call (828) 631-0271
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Open
to the public
since October 2006
US
Environmental Protection Agency
Awards Jackson County
Green Energy Park
Project
of the Year
Award
for 2006
Please contact us with any
questions,
comments, ideas or suggestions.
We look forward to your
visit!
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Background
Information
All municipal
landfills emit Landfill Gas (LFG), which is roughly 50%
methane and 50% carbon dioxide and other trace gases.
This flammable gas can be burned as a fuel in furnaces,
kilns, engines, or boilers.
Methane gas is
created naturally when organic wastes (food scraps, yard
wastes, etc) decompose in the absence of oxygen. If left
uncollected, methane gas can be very damaging to the
environment, contributing to local smog and air quality
problems. As a greenhouse gas, methane has roughly 27
times the environmental impact of carbon dioxide.
Uncollected LFG is also the main source of odors
associated with landfills
Articles
Most recent are listed at the top.Methane-fueled
blacksmithing
forge
opens in Dillsboro
January 11, 2007 - Asheville
Citizen-Times
Green Energy Park
earns EPA Recognition
January 10, 2007 - Smoky
Mountain News
The Green Scene:
Bringing Biofuels to
Jackson County
January 3, 2006 -
Mountain Xpress
EPA awards
Jackson County
Green
Energy Park
December 21, 2006 - Macon County
News
Jackson County celebrates
opening
of Green Energy Park
October 11, 2006 - Smoky Mountain
News
Jackson Green Energy Park
opens
October 4, 2006 - Smoky Mountain
News
The Green Scene:
One Man's Trash...
September 27, 2006 -
Mountain Xpress
Jackson County Taking the
Lead In Alternative Energy
March 9, 2006 - Macon County News
Smoky Mountain Biofuels
Approved
For ‘Green’
Energy Park
March 23, 2006 - The Sylva Herald
Landfill Methane As An
Alternative Source of
Power
February 1, 2006 - National Public
Radio (NPR)
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Links
Learn more from these resources.EPA
Landfill Methane
Outreach
Program
NC GreenPower :: Types of
Renewable Energy :: Organic Matter
South Carolina Energy
Office
Primer on Landfill Gas
as "Green"
Energy
Methane to Markets
GreenHouse Gas Online
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Project Goals
Our landfill
gas recovery project has three main goals:
Economics
- Use LFG as a low-cost fuel
to help power an economic engine, driving new
businesses that otherwise couldn’t afford to
open.
- Open up new opportunities
for existing businesses.
- Increase both eco-tourism
and heritage crafts tourism in the area.
- Increase media coverage,
putting Jackson County “on the map”.
- Offer greenhouse operators
and botanical growers an opportunity to add
significant value to their crops through drying
and processing.
- Use of sustainable building
materials and techniques, along with
incorporation of daylighting and other solar
technologies, will reduce overall project energy
use.
Environmental
Protection
- Prevent methane (a potent
greenhouse gas) from escaping into the
atmosphere.
- Remove odors caused by
leaking LFG.
- Prevent methane and other
gases from possibly migrating offsite through
water movement.
- Transform a trash-covered
eyesore into beautiful public place.
Education
- Offer both students and
adults chances to learn about renewable energy,
energy conservation, and sustainable building
design in a real-world, hands-on environment.
- Opportunities for
introductory and advanced craft training and
demonstrations.
- Present new agriculture
techniques to the public in terms of greenhouse
use.
- Opportunities for local
students to participate in building and operating
greenhouses.
- Public seminars on building
kilns and glass furnaces will offer unique
educational opportunities.
Our goal for completion of
Phase 1 of this project
by the end of October 2006 was met with great success!
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Contact:
Timm Muth – Project Manager
(828) 631-0271 or (828) 507-1800 (cell)
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Jackson County
Green Energy Park
Timm Muth – Project
Manager
(828) 631-0271 office
(828) 507-1800 cell
e-mail: tmuth
(at) jacksonNC.org
(*you must fill in
address manually*)
Blacksmith
Studios
contact information coming soon.
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Smoky
Mountain Biofuels
Alan Begley – (828) 734-9949
Sam Gray – (828) 734-5286
e-mail: smbfnc
(at) yahoo.com
(*you must fill in
address manually*)
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