In 2018, then-Gov. John Hickenlooper’s administration convened a series of meetings in Delta to address climate impacts in Colorado.

Stakeholders included local and statewide conservation groups, staff from Gunnison and Delta counties, the U.S. Forest Service, coal mine operators, the Bureau of Land Management, the Colorado State Reclamation Commission, the Colorado Energy Office, staff members for Sens. Gary Gardner and Michael Bennet, and local officials.

One major topic of discussion was how to address methane leaks in Colorado’s North Fork Valley.

Coal mines have operated in the region since the 1890s. As with many coal deposits, coal from these mines is saturated with methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.

Methane is vented into the atmosphere to prevent underground fires and continues to leak long after the mines close. Its climate impact is 84 times that of carbon dioxide. While a major source of air pollution, methane is also a usable energy resource.

Among the ideas proposed for harnessing methane’s energy were large-scale crypto mining, diamond manufacturing, and even a massive pizza oven. But one idea stood out as both practical and economically viable: using local resources to create sustainable ceramics. That idea eventually led to the creation of Delta Brick & Climate Co. and its sister company, Particular Tile, which was based in Montrose until recently.

Delta Brick & Climate Co.

Christopher Caskey, a scientist and entrepreneur passionate about energy and climate change, is the founder of Delta Brick & Climate Co. and managing director of MethaneRx.

He previously served as a research assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, a scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a materials science consultant, and a mountaineering guide.

He is a board member of the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority and former board chair of the Western Slope Conservation Center.

“One idea that came out of the meeting stood out as both practical and economically feasible,” Caskey said. “Just up the road from the coal mines is Paonia Reservoir, another site with a problem to address. Sediment from Muddy Creek has accumulated in the reservoir over decades and caused significant loss in storage capacity. For a community that’s increasingly reliant on agriculture, the reservoir is a critical water source for irrigation in a dry Western climate. This mud turned out to be high-quality clay that can be used for ceramics.”

At the time, Caskey wasn’t thrilled with his job, so he told the group that if they could secure a small grant, he would run with the ceramics concept. He received the grant and began testing building materials, including bricks, pavers, and tile, leading him to found Delta Brick & Climate Co.

The business takes its name from the original Delta Brick & Tile Co., which operated in Delta County from 1905 to 1958 and produced many of the bricks seen in the region’s buildings today.

Since then, Delta Brick & Climate Co. has received additional grant funding from Delta County, Gunnison County, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Additional support has come from the Telluride Regional Loan Fund, the Kenneth King Foundation, and Greenline Ventures.

Today, Delta Brick & Climate Co. makes all its products from clay sediment removed from Paonia Reservoir. The company’s kilns currently use standard gas and electric heat, but the goal is to run the operation entirely on methane captured from local mines.

Future Plans

“I am focusing on the climate side of the business at the moment,” Caskey said. “I purchased an abandoned coal mine outside of Paonia and built a methane capture system there. The next step is to test fire tile using the captured methane. Eventually, Mina and I hope to move Particular Tile up to the mine to have easy access to the energy produced.”

Caskey is also working with CORE, a nonprofit in Aspen, to mitigate methane from the old Coal Basin mines outside of Redstone, Colorado. Additionally, he is involved in other methane mitigation projects throughout the state.

“The dream is to have a successful working tile factory on a coal mine that will solve climate issues like sedimentation at the reservoir and methane leaking from the mine,” Caskey said. “I hope it goes a little way toward slowing down climate change.”

Particular Tile

In March 2022, Caskey launched Particular Tile with his plant manager, Nina Steigele, who recently purchased the business from him. The new company builds on Delta Brick & Climate Co.’s sustainable materials but focuses on handcrafted, design-forward ceramics.

Particular Tile specializes in custom, handmade clay tile for homes and businesses across Colorado.

The company’s factory, which was in Montrose, is now in transition to the Paonia mine location.

“Due to the organic and handmade nature of our tile, every single tile is one of a kind and unlike any other—like an original work of art,” Steigele said. “The variation in glaze color, shape, size, and texture is intentional and lends depth, character, and uniqueness to each piece. We believe this is the hallmark of a product that is made by hand.”

Particular Tile’s clients include designers, builders, and individuals across Colorado and beyond. The company has created tiles for boutique hotels, restaurants, wine bars, and custom homes. Currently, Caskey and Steigele handle all the work, bringing in temporary staff for larger orders.

“One of the biggest challenges is really getting our name out there,” Steigele said. “We don’t have a big marketing budget, so it’s been a lot of word of mouth. In addition, we’ve recently moved the kiln up to the mine, and the shop is in my garage for now. We’ve changed up a lot of our equipment to be more efficient as we switch over to methane energy.”

Once the company is fully relocated to the mine and operational, Steigele and Caskey plan to open the facility to the public. Both are passionate about conservation and hope to educate people on their company’s mission and vision for the future.

Jen Wolfe is a freelance contributor for the Montrose Business Times