Chris Caskey is a chemist-turned-entrepreneur on a mission to, as he puts it, “destroy a shit ton
of methane!” Over the first 20 years that methane is in our atmosphere it warms our climate 86
times more than carbon dioxide, yet methane leaks alarmingly fast from active and abandoned
coal mines across the globe. Chris, and his rugged and rural mountain community in western
Colorado, are innovating solutions to tackle this pressing problem, while creating water, clean
jobs, community spaces, and ceramics in the process. This is climate action. Brick by brick.
Coal mining leaves land and watersheds scarred and communities in shambles during
production and even when operations close down. Millions of Americans live within a few miles
of an abandoned coal mine, and even when their worst impacts seem to have dissipated, these
mines still harm the environment and people by leaking methane, a clear and relatively odorless
gas. We need examples of creative solutions to deal with abandoned mine methane (AMM) on
the big screen, to inspire other scientists, engineers, manual laborers, entrepreneurs, and
others who can help to join the effort. But as climate change is now such a polarized issue, it is
also key that the stories we tell bring us together instead of separating us further. Chris is a
humble, blue collar, hard working and fun lead character whose ultimate goal is to destroy
methane and create sustainable jobs. In a red county where people need jobs, his work has the
potential to help break down the polarizing issue of climate change. Methane Rising centers on
Chris’ journey in Paonia and the Crystal River Valley mitigating methane, and it will culminate as
he brings a ceramic kiln up to the Bowie #1 mine to fire his first round of bricks and prove his
innovative concept works. The film will also bring in the voice of community members and
scientists helping Chris, and diverse experts in climate change, coal mining, and methane
mitigation who can see Chris’s story in a global context. We believe this unique story will rally
people from diverse backgrounds to rise up to the moment and help destroy methane at the
source!