For the coal plant, Higgins has long eyed White Pine County in northeast Nevada, bordering Utah.

FORBES: Lighting Las Vegas

Much closer to home, the company closed on a sizable purchase in the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak appellation of California's Mendocino County.

WSJ: From Grief to Growth at Jackson Family Wines

There are 100 counties in North Carolina, Ali, many of them like Mitchell County and thousands of towns around the country like Spruce Pine, a lot of people basically just trying to make new lives for themselves, either in their communities or maybe thinking about moving elsewhere -- Ali.

CNN: Transcript of May 'CNN Money Summit: Money & Main St.'