The debate over tearing down the Dillsboro dam took a new twist this week. Jackson County leaders will be considering a plan to take over the dam, which is owned and operated by Duke Energy.

Under Jackson County’s control, the electricity generated by the dam could turn Dillsboro into an entirely “green power” town if coupled with methane gas captured from the county’s old landfill, a plan already in the works.

“I have felt all along that the dam is historical and Dillsboro is a historical town,” said Susan Leveille, Dillsboro’s second most long-standing merchant, upon hearing of the alternative plan. “We have tried to capitalize on that, we the merchants and the (Webster) town board, too. So I’ve felt that it would be terrible for the dam to come out. I am very hopeful that something can be worked out.”

Keeping the dam, and pairing it with the county’s planned landfill gas recovery project to generate green power for the town, has surfaced as a sort of compromise between warring camps. Power generated by landfill gas — an estimated 2.9 million kilowatt hours per year — could be used to power an artisans’ studio where high power users such as potters and glassblowers’ studios could be located, in addition to retail space, gas heated greenhouses and possibly a sawmill.

The power generated by the dam could service the 200 or so residents and merchants of the town.

James Jackson, owner of Tuckasegee Outfitters who originally supported Duke’s plan to take out the dam and restore a section of free flowing river, said he was open to the idea of greenpower. “If that’s the case, it would be nice to take it out, but if you’re actually going to operate it safely and correctly, I don’t see a problem with it.”

The two projects — the landfill and taking over the dam — not only would provide for an environmentally conscious power source, but also would create a new, unique tourist attraction in the largely seasonal town.

“Especially if they had some sort of demonstration facility and educational programs about green power,” said Rick Urban, a Dillsboro potter and environmental activist.

In the case of the landfill project, the artisan’s studios could have a spillover effect for the rest of the town. Landfill artisans could cross-market with stores like Urban’s The Mountain Pottery on Front Street or Leveille’s The Oaks Gallery, which carry items produced by a variety of artists. The project also could boost the Dillsboro art scene overall, as glassblowers, who traditionally can sell their work for higher prices than other artists, would be attracted to the area, Urban said.

“If you’re offering free gas, you’ll have glassblowers lining up,” Urban said.

Currently, there are no glassblowers in Dillsboro. The craft requires large amounts of heat generated by ultra-clean burning methane, something that the town’s stained glass artist Bob Pace said he doesn’t particularly need. Though he has been experimenting with fused glass — pieces of glass melted together — his general operations do not require the same set up as a glassblower.

“So I wouldn’t be as benefited as others,” Pace said.

Neither plans for the landfill project nor a dam takeover have gotten much beyond the conceptual stages. Sylva-based architect Odell Thompson, the same architect selected to work on Jackson County’s new library, has been charged with developing a master plan for the landfill site. The proposed dam takeover is just one part of an alternative settlement agreement proposed by Jackson County and now being discussed by other local governments. So far only the town of Franklin has signed on to the alternative proposal.

As for the feasibility of Jackson County running its own dam, it’s certainly not out of the question, said Charles Miereck, president of the Clifton Corporation, a small independent hydropower consulting firm based in Spartanburg, S.C.

“With some training there’s no reason why it couldn’t be done,” Miereck said. “On a day-to-day basis, it’s not rocket science to run a power plant. It sounds like a good idea.”

In August 2004, Miereck proposed that Duke turn the Dillsboro dam over to him so that he could retrofit and upgrade it, making it a more viable source of power production. Miereck runs his own hydroplant in South Carolina. Duke shot down the idea — perhaps because Miereck suggested that Duke pay him to take it off their hands — saying that no other plans other than dam removal were being considered.

According to documents Duke filed with FERC, the Dillsboro Dam produces an average of 912,330 kilowatt-hours per year. The typical home uses about 12,000 kilowatt-hours per year.

“It would power about 100 homes for a year right now,” Miereck said.

At full capacity — currently the dam has three turbines slots, but only two turbines — the dam could double its output, Miereck said.

While the county most likely would contract out the operation of the dam, the catch is that Duke has a franchise monopoly. Any power produced could not be sold directly to customers — it would have to be sold to Duke, Miereck said.

“But there are various ways to get around that,” Miereck said.