Brewed by the Sun: Breckenridge Brewery Celebrates New 289-kW Solar Project

One of Colorado's Oldest Breweries Enters the Arena of Solar Beer Brewing with a New Onsite Project.

February, 27, 2020 - Littleton, Colorado - One of Colorado’s most established brewers has taken the next step in their sustainability efforts. Breckenridge Brewery, the third-oldest craft brewery in the Centennial State, celebrates the completion of a 289-kW solar project at their Littleton facility, less than 100 miles from the original brew pub in the small mountain town of Breckenridge.  

The project, developed and financed by ForeFront Power and installed by HOLT Renewables, includes 792 solar PV panels outfitted on the rooftops of the 12-acre facility. The newly installed solar array will produce 433,280 kilowatt hours (kWhs) per year, which equates to more than 20% of Breckenridge Brewery’s annual purchased electricity. This is equivalent to 675,500 pounds of CO2 avoided each year. Breckenridge Brewery prides itself on going green and has made sustainability a priority. Recent efforts include utilizing its on-site garden for a farm-to-table menu, working with local partners for an Earth Day river cleanup and installing energy-efficient LED lighting. Additionally, the brewery hosted an event for World Environment Day last year, generating proceeds to plant 698 trees, instituted a zero waste goal for their summer concert series and donated $40,000 to the National Parks Conservation Association as part of the Pints for Parks initiative.

“Colorado is known for its natural beauty, and we feel so lucky to be brewing beer in such an incredible place,” said Todd Usry, President of Breckenridge Brewery. “Our newly installed solar panels are a big step in ensuring we’re doing our part to help create a more sustainable future. And with an average of over 300 days of sunshine, we’ll be putting those solar panels to work! We’re so thankful for our partners at ForeFront Power and HOLT Renewables for making this vision come to life.”

The installation of solar panels at Breckenridge Brewery is part of a larger company-wide commitment from Brewers Collective, the craft business unit of Anheuser-Busch and its Elevate initiative. By the end of 2020, all craft partners will shift to 100% solar and wind renewable electricity and complete the installation of solar panels. The new solar project at Breckenridge Brewery also contributes to Colorado’s goal for the state’s electricity grid to be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2040.

“ForeFront Power is proud to work with Breckenridge Brewery to help meet its own sustainability goals, as well as those set forth by the Brewers Collective Elevate initiative,” said Paul Walker CEO of Forefront Power. “By producing clean solar power at their facilities, Breckenridge Brewery is not only improving their own operations, but also helping the great state of Colorado meet its own renewable energy goals. At ForeFront Power, it is our goal to empower local businesses to become contributors to the greater clean-energy economy.”

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Breckenridge Brewery marked the completion of the solar panel project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 26, 2020.