ForeFront Power announced it has partnered with Anheuser-Busch, to develop solar energy systems at eight breweries in its craft business unit, Brewers Collective. ForeFront Power has now completed solar energy installations at Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago, Blue Point Brewing Co. in Patchogue, New York, Virtue Cider in Fennville, Michigan, Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton, Colorado, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. in Lexington, Virginia, Four Peaks Brewing Co. in Tempe, Arizona, Karbach Brewing Co. in Houston, and 10 Barrel Brewing Co. in Bend, Oregon. Combined, these solar energy systems total 2.4 MWDC.
“Many craft breweries are more than production facilities; they are now major tourist destinations and community hubs,” said Michael Smith, CEO of ForeFront Power. “On-site solar generation can not only substantially reduce utility costs, but also serve as a tangible demonstration of a brewery’s environmental stewardship and commitment to taking climate action. We applaud Anheuser-Busch for its clean energy leadership in the beverage sector, and it has been so rewarding for our team to help breweries across the U.S. achieve their sustainability goals.”
In Chicago, ForeFront Power installed a 377-kWDC rooftop solar array atop Goose Island’s Barrel House. Goose Island opened in 1988, and in 2014 opened the Barrel House, a 139,000 sq. ft brewing facility and event space that is home to over 15,000 barrels, all within a historic Art Deco brick warehouse.
“Goose Island is proud to have completed a solar energy project atop our Barrel House,” said Todd Ahsmann, president of Goose Island Beer Co. “The ForeFront Power team helped make going solar a turnkey process, and we are pleased with our system’s performance, the utility savings it provides, and its positive contribution to our region’s climate goals. Goose Island is proof that if solar can work in the Windy City, it can work anywhere.”
At Long Island’s Blue Point Brewing Co., ForeFront Power installed a 217-kWDC rooftop solar array atop the brewery’s 54,000 sq. ft facility in Patchogue, New York. The completion of the solar project marks an important milestone in Blue Point Brewing’s decades-long sustainability program.
“Blue Point is surrounded by water and has always focused our sustainability efforts on protecting our waterways,” said Nick Rosenberg, Blue Point’s environmental safety manager. “Becoming a solar brewery was the logical next step to fight climate change and lower our utility bills at the same time. We are thankful for ForeFront Power’s expert guidance through every phase of the project, from permitting, to installation, to construction and energization.”
The solar projects are all part of a company-wide commitment from Anheuser-Busch to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable sources – a goal it achieved four years early. Through partnerships with leading renewable energy providers like ForeFront Power, all Anheuser-Busch Brewers Collective craft partner brewery and cidery locations now brew with 100% renewable electricity from wind and solar power.
