Innovation is key in building new business in today's economy. One community in Western North Carolina found a way to link an old landfill and traditional crafts to grow new jobs. Elizabeth Wilder takes us to the Mitchell, Yancey County line to visit Michael Hatach, a glass blower.
"The whole trick is blowing from the inside out," Michael Hatch. Ten wells just from the ground, trapping the methane. It's piped to the flare station then up the hill to a craft studio where, Energy X-Change, a nonprofit operation lies.
"The important thing is to keep it from going into the air. It's important to combust it," Dan Asher. Grants helped pay more than a million and a half dollars to link the capped landfill and artist incubator space. No resources is left untapped.
"We're using renewable resources for crafts. Nothing goes to waste using solar, thermal or the economic benefit for the residents," Dan Asher.
At any given time, two glassblowers and four potters work to perfect their crafts and build business. Each pays a small fee for the chance to work here for 3 years.
"What we are doing is giving artists a chance to become professional artits, and sustain themselves and hopefully, if we're successful, that will help others," Lisa Glucken, Potter.
Over the years, 20 people have taken advantage of the unusual residency. "One of our biggest expenses is gas, $1000 to $2000 a month to run the furnaces. Here we're using methane from an old landfill so we don't have a gas bill. That right there is saving me up to $18,000 a year," Michael Hatch, Crucible Glassworks.
What's different here is perhaps the collaboration and the ingenuity. "Energy X-Change wouldn't exist without horticulture and art. Without collaboration it would have been like any other landfill," Asher. There are closed landfills all over the state. This group keyed in on harnessing the economic opportunity for the region.
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