COMMUNITY
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company By Aveed Khaki
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ierra Nevada Brewing Co. is synonymous with sustainability. From the early days of the company’s inception, thirty-one years ago, into the present and even in their planning for the future, Sierra Nevada has upheld the highest standards in sustainability, yet still has the humble nature to admit they are not perfect and can still do more. It just so happens, that they plan to. Ken Grossman, owner and found of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. long believed that social and environmental responsibility were cornerstones of a successful business. It was this sense of responsibility that encouraged him to find ways to not only minimize the impacts the brewery would have on the environment, but in many cases turn back the clock entirely by investing in and integrating the most efficient technologies and waste reduction measures. The brewery strives to leave the smallest footprint possible without jeopardizing quality by conserving water on-site, generating its own electricity, continuing to use energy efficient machinery, recovering heat and carbon dioxide emissions and practicing proper environmental stewardship through its waste reduction, recycling and sustainable agricultural practices. As a giant in the field of craft brewing, it is exciting to see the strides the brewery has made in using its pull with farmers to bring
about more sustainable farming practices. In 2009, Sierra Nevada Brewering Co. launched the Farm with Your Brewer program. Focusing on eight major requirements, the brewery was able to partner with barley farmers no more than 40 miles in radius from its Prairie Malt Facility and require that these farms elect to invest in sustainable farming practices to participate in the program. If the grower elects to follow the proposed sustainable practices, Sierra Nevada pays a financial incentive up front to assist in covering the financial risk associated with changing their farming methods. If the farmer can harvest barley that meets the needs of the brewery, they receive a premium price for the barley purchased, encouraging the farmer even further. Looking at the astounding size of the brewery itself, one would be hard pressed to not recognize the immense needs it must have for energy. From the lighting to powering the machinery and everything in between, energy demands from a facility like this would be rather monumental. In 2005, Sierra Nevada cited this need for energy and became the first brewing company in the United States to install hydrogen fuel cells. The facility, which runs on natural gas, is capable of generating 1.2 Megawatts of electricity. To make sustainable even more sustainable, recovery units were installed to recover the 750°F exhaust
Left: Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada proudly stands in front of his recent fuel cell installation that provides 48% of the brewery’s total electricity needs. Top: A snapshot of the recent 2.0 Megawatt solar installation that accounts for another 20% of the brewery’s energy needs. Bottom: Sierra Nevada Brewery and Taproom.
leaving the units, produce steam from this exhaust, and finally recycle it back into the brewing process. By the end of 2010, the fuel cells were producing 48% of the brewery’s electricity needs. In 2008, Sierra Nevada finished what is currently one of the largest privately owned solar installations in the country with 2 Megawatts of photovoltaic panels. The solar installation makes up another 20% of total energy needs for the brewery. Our favorite part of this, is not just the impact Sierra Nevada is having on our local community, but on people throughout the world. Currently, as an internationally shipped product, Sierra Nevada beer is able to not only educate the taste buds of its purchasers, but their understanding of the environment around them as well. From their stewardship programs to their commitment to quality through sustainability, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is a pioneer and trendsetter worldwide, proving that quality and sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive, but rather, that one may in fact help create the other. For more information on Sierra Nevada’s commitment to environmental stewardship and comprehensive sustainability plan, please visit their website at www.sierranevada.com/environment/solar.html
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