In June of 2014, North State Solar Energy completed a 30.2 kilowatt system on the roof of Bear Republic’s Cloverdale facility. A little later the same year, the brewery will add a second system, a 136.6 kilowatt solar canopy.
The solar project was part of a sustainability push for Bear Republic, which is also installing technology to treat wastewater from the brewing process while capturing electricity and heat that goes straight back into the production process.
In keeping with a tradition of community leadership by craft brewers, Bear Republic has continually looked at investing in solar energy over the past five or ten years, says master brewer Peter Kruger. “The CEO of our company says while we always want to do the right thing; it doesn’t say Bear Republic, not-for-profit, on the letterhead. The economics are finally there,” says Kruger, who serves on the sustainability subcommittee of the national Brewers Association.
As a champion for American business, Bear Republic found a strong partner in North State Solar Energy. North State Solar president Mike Houar says Bear Republic could have found lower-priced systems by using foreign components, but like many customers, it preferred the ones with the American flag. “Our commitment and the commitment of our customers to American manufacturing, it’s pretty deep. It didn’t happen just yesterday,” Houar says.