Jackson County Green Energy Park – Renewable Energy From Landfill Methane Gas

TO CELEBRATE OUR
RE-OPENING, PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST

Fire Arts Festival
Saturday March 4th
10am-3pm

• Glassblowing
• Blacksmithing
• Artwork for sale
• Walk-in classes available

Our glassblowing, blacksmithing, ceramics and metal foundry facilites are now open to the public.

Hours are 10am – 3pm Wednesday thru Friday, with tours, demonstratons and a gallery of finished pieces for purchase.

Public classes will resume in the Spring.

1/2 mile past the Huddle House in Dillsboro. Call 828-631-0271

We Need Your Help

Survey for Support of Green Energy Park

Dear friends,

Those of you who have visited us know what an asset the GEP is to our community. But it's hard to place a dollar value on the full economic and environmental impact that the GEP brings.

So we have commissioned an economic impact study that will help define our value to the community. By answering this short five minute survey, you would help ensure that the GEP continues to thrive and grow.

Survey Link

All answers are anonymous, and will only be used to help us understand the GEP's full impact.

Thank you so very much for your help.

Timm Muth, Director

“This is an awesome place and it was a class that brought us out here. We will definitely be returning. Thank you!”

Jackie Methven, NC

“The instructor was great and explained all the steps carefully. His enthusiasm was wonderful. Thank you!”

“A great use of natural available energy and fun at the same time”

Gerry Murdock, NC

“Thank you for all you do to help me in continuing to follow my dreams!”

“Can't wait to come back!”

Cindy Lewis, NC

“I love the classes you offer! The Green Energy Park is Awesome!”

“Great teachers!”

“The park is a needed endeavor and the class exposes the public to the 'green' concept”

“The GEP is a great asset to Jackson County”

Mary Gwen Kistler, NC

“I love what you guys are doing here and it's wonderful that you offer classes to the community as well.”

“Wish I had come here before now! ”

Robert Edwards, NC

Gas Flare Igniter and Combustion Chamber

At night, when we’re not using the landfill gas, we “flare” it or burn it off so that the methane doesn’t enter our atmosphere. But the flare took a lightning hit which killed the ingiter system, and an original replacement was going to cost us $13,000. So instead we found a solar-powered igniter, and our master fabricator Kevin built a cool wheeled sled (above) that moves the igniter up so it can light the flare, then pulls it back down to reduce wear and tear. Total cost – under $500!

We’ve also never been happy with the flare shroud – the big metal tube where the flare is supposed to burn. It was too short, didn’t really contain or protect the flame, and allowed the wind to blow the flare out, requiring constant relights.

So I talked with our friend Chip down at Innovation Station, and he hooked us up with an old stainless steel beer keg that he couldn’t use. Once again, Kevin fired up the plasma torch and welder, and turned the keg into an insulated combustion chamber with a rain roof. Now our flare burns at a higher temperature, holds the flame within the chamber for a few seconds to ensure total destruction of any harmful chemicals, and never blows out.

Big thanks to Chip and Innovation for their fine donation, and kudos to Kevin for an amazing job.

Other Efforts

In addition to these big projects, our team members also:

• Built a $3,000 high speed belt sander for $500 and lots of donated parts.

• Presented a lecture on renewable energy in the glass industry for the international Glass Arts Society.

• Constructed a packaging area for the artists.

• Completely rebuilt our oldest blacksmith forge, and upgraded it to a high-efficiency ribbon burner (we even got the burner donated by the manufacturer, since we have the only forges in the world to run on landfill gas).