MillerCoors Irwindale Facility Completes Largest Solar Panel Installation At Any U.S. Brewery
Brewery Uses Onsite Solar Power and Biogas to Help Meet Energy Needs
IRWINDALE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MillerCoors, a U.S. brewer with more than 400 years of American brewing heritage, today announced the completion of a 3.2 megawatt capacity solar panel installation at its Irwindale, Calif., brewery. The new solar array is the largest installed at any brewery in the U.S. and will significantly increase the brewery's energy independence.
"From heating our kettles to the packaging process, we rely on energy to brew our quality beers. Simply put, without energy there is no beer," said Tom Long, MillerCoors CEO. "But we are acutely aware of the energy stress on this community, so we are doing our share – plus some – to decrease usage by installing this solar array. This step toward brewing more sustainably makes us a better brewer and a better neighbor to the residents of Los Angeles County."
The project, which broke ground in October 2014, generates electricity without producing any emissions and will help to offset electricity use on the local grid during periods of high demand. It will also help further reduce the brewery's traditional energy use, which has decreased by more than 30 percent over the last five years. With more than 10,000 solar panels installed across 10 acres of the brewery grounds, the MillerCoors solar array will produce enough energy to brew more than 7 million cases of beer annually. The brewery also creates biogas from wastewater to power two GE Jenbacher engines.
"Leveraging solar power helps ensure that we can continue brewing beer in California for years to come," said Ben Maillette, MillerCoors Irwindale Brewery Vice President. "MillerCoors has been a strong supporter of the San Gabriel Valley community for more than 50 years, and this project is the latest way we're alleviating some of the environmental issues facing the region."
MillerCoors worked with SolarCity, the nation's #1 solar service provider, on the project. While other brewers have installed solar arrays at their various sites, the solar array at MillerCoors Irwindale Brewery is the largest solar photovoltaic system installed at a brewery in the U.S.
About MillerCoors
Through its diverse collection of storied breweries, MillerCoors brings American beer drinkers an unmatched selection of the highest quality beers steeped in centuries of brewing heritage. Miller Brewing Company and Coors Brewing Company offer domestic favorites such as Coors Light, Miller Lite, Miller High Life and Coors Banquet, as well as innovative new products such as Miller Fortune. Tenth and Blake Beer Company, our craft and import division, offers beers such as Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy from sixth-generation Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and Blue Moon Belgian White from modern craft pioneer Blue Moon Brewing Company. Tenth and Blake also operates Crispin Cidery, an artisanal maker of pear and apple ciders using 100 percent fresh-pressed American juice. The company imports world-renowned beers such as Italy's Peroni, the Czech Republic's Pilsner Urquell and the Netherlands' Grolsch. MillerCoors also offers pioneering new brands such as Redd's Apple Ale, Batch 19 Pre-Prohibition Lager, Third Shift Amber Ale and Smith & Forge Hard Cider. MillerCoors seeks to become America's best beer company through an uncompromising promise of quality, a keen focus on innovation and a deep commitment to sustainability. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.
SOURCE MillerCoors
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