North Carolina Breweries Earn Solar Champion Award

Brewers of Asheville and Western North Carolina were presented with the SEIA Solar Champion Award yesterday. Breweries honored included Appalachian Mountain Brewery, French Broad Brewery, Highland Brewing Company, Innovation Brewing, New Belgium Brewing and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

 

The Solar Champion Award is bestowed upon entities or individuals that have helped strengthen solar energy across America. The craft breweries selected for this award emphasize this by showing how solar is a clean, reliable and affordable power choice. 

The event was held at Highland Brewing Company, which alone has a 325-kilowatt solar array capable of powering the entire brewery. A variety of community, industry and government leaders spoke at the event, including Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry. Representatives from the offices of Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, as well as for Republican Gov. Pat McCrory also came to the event.

Rep. McHenry spoke to the crowd about the need to use all of our resources. He singled out solar, explaining the critical point that solar is not a partisan issue, but a solution that benefits everyone regarless of politics. Like a cellphone or flat-screen TV, a solar panel is simply an electronic component that works for anyone who chooses it, McHenry said. 

North Carolina as a whole has made great strides in solar development. The state currently has 1,264 megawatts (MW) of solar power installed. That is enough to power approximately 135,000 homes, ranking the Tar Heel State fourth in the country.

The event in Asheville was a great way to honor the commitment these leading brewers have made to sustainability and solar energy. The small businesses that make up the backbone of the craft brewing industry can work hand-in-hand with small businesses installing affordable, reliable solar panels. It’s a win-win for both industries and keeps the local waters clean for brewing.

Breweries are one of the latest industries going solar because it is a cost-effective investment for a business’ bottom line. Hopefully this all adds up to a return trip to beautiful, sunny North Carolina for another SEIA Solar Champion Award in the near future.