Green Beer… No Longer Just for St. Patty’s Day-

Anheuser-Busch recently publicized that their Fairfield, CA brewery now holds more than 6 acres of photovoltaic solar arrays (a grouping of multiple solar panels), which currently produces about 3% of the brewery’s electricity needs. In 2008, the company collaborated with SunEdison to bring functionality together with energy and environmental consciousness by constructing the six-acre solar farm on factory grounds. The ground-mounted solar power system generates almost 1.2 MW, and as per the solar power service agreement, SunEdison financed, installed, operates and monitors the equipment. Anheuser-Busch also employs a Bio Energy Recovery System (BERS) that converts brewing waste into renewable biofuel to lower their consumption of natural gas. Still, these are certainly not the first green energy projects this brewing company has involved itself in; the lighting has been replaced with LED efficient fixtures that are set on timers, a project to recover steam to heat water throughout the brewery has greatly reduced greenhouse emissions, and energy efficient boiler burners and air compressors were installed to help lower power consumption. The brewery has reportedly lowered fuel usage by a substantial 38%, water use by 32% and electricity use by 14% since 2004 by utilizing renewable energy and preserving resources.

General Manager, Kevin Finger, has boasted the brewery’s long-time commitment to renewable energy processes on the plant, stating, “Operating with care and concern for the environment has been a hallmark of Anheuser-Busch for more than century. Our increased use of alternative energy sources is the latest example of how we strive to be the best beer company in a better world.” To add to their green energy “report card”, Anheuser-Busch currently recycles more than 99% of the solid waste it accumulates, abiding a long standing custom which began in the late 1800’s when the company first began to recycle brewers grain into cattle feed. In 2008 alone, the brewery recycled almost 200 million lbs of waste materials including aluminum, glass, metal, cardboard, wood, brewing grains, electronic devices, batteries, stretch wrap and paper labels. For their upstanding efforts in renewable energy, the Fairfield brewery has been honored fifteen times by the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) from the California Integrated Waste Management Board. The arrangement will also supply RECs, or Renewable Energy Certificates, which will be available to purchase for companies or individuals that wish to help offset use of fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. State Senator Lois Wolk, who represents the region, has communicated her pleasure with the brewing giant. She has stated that the company has been an excellent neighbor to Fairfield for over thirty years and has merited their standing as a top employer as well as an environmentally active business, even before it was trendy to do so.

Anheuser-Busch’s United States breweries anticipate that renewable fuel will supply more than 15% of the company’s energy needs by the end of 2009, which means that about 1 in 7 beers brewed by the company in the U.S. are expected to be produced using renewable energy. Kirk Roller, VP of SunEdison, is excited about the future of solar power integrated with the brewery and has stated, “Anheuser-Busch has taken a strong leadership role in protecting natural resources and using energy wisely and efficiently. By hosting a PV solar energy system, Anheuser-Busch is part of America’s new energy future. SunEdison is proud to support them today and for decades to come.”

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