Abita Brewing Co. Goes Solar
Abita Springs, LA – South Coast Solar, LLC is excited to announce the completed installation of an 85 kilowatt solar project at Abita Brewing Company LLC. As one of the largest solar installations in the state, this system falls in line with Abita Brewing Company’s corporate culture. The project was made possible through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) that provided a 25% grant to supplement the cost of the project.
South Coast Solar LLC of New Orleans, a leading solar design-build contractor, has announced the installation of a grid connected 85 kW photovoltaic (PV) system on the rooftop of the Abita Brewing Company LLC, a Louisiana-based craft brewery.
The project was made possible through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) that provided a 25% grant to supplement the cost of the project. This system serves as one of the largest commercial solar systems in the state and will join only a handful of breweries across the country to implement solar technology. The system’s 340 solar panels were installed on the warehouse of the main facility. Over the next 25 years, the system is estimated to offset 2,737,202 kilowatt hours. The system will offset approximately 2,054 tons of carbon or 10,264 trees over the next 25 years.
“At Abita, we work to make great beer every day. We also work to make the world around us a better place to live by being a good neighbor,” said David Blossman, president of Abita Brewing Company. “We’re committed to being a green brewer, protecting the environment and our unique culture so that Louisiana will always be the Sportsman’s Paradise.”
The USDA’s REAP provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a wide variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including solar PV and solar thermal projects. The program, administered by USDA Rural Development, offers grants and loan guarantees to any agricultural producer or rural small business. In this sense, rural is defined as any community consisting of less than 50,000 members. “Clarence W. Hawkins, State Director for USDA Rural Development said he was pleased to see Louisiana small businesses and agriculture producers take advantage of REAP funding to offset energy consumption and ultimately improve their bottom-line.”
Jerry Hymel, vice president of commercial projects for South Coast Solar, developed the project and helped author the USDA grant application for Abita Brewing. “Solar technology provides the perfect platform for established businesses, like Abita Brewing Co., to employ proven technology, lock in their energy rates long term, and reinvest their savings into the future growth of the company. We are truly excited to have partnered with such an exciting company who is committed to adopt renewable energy as a means to produce dependable, clean energy.”
The Abita Brewing Company was founded in Abita Springs, Louisiana in 1986 and is the oldest and largest craft brewer in the southeast. Abita is the 21st largest commercial brewer by production volume in the nation and the 14th largest craft brewer in the United States. Sales for the brewery were 151,000 barrels last year. Abita Brewing Company produces seven flagship brews year-round: Abita Amber, Golden, Light, Turbodog®, Purple Haze®, Jockamo I.P.A.® and Restoration Pale Ale®. Abita also offers five seasonal beers, three Harvest brews, three Big Beers and a draft-only series of Select beers. To find out more, please visit www.abita.com – facebook – @TheAbitaBeer
Headquartered in New Orleans with offices in Oxford, MS and Nashville, TN, South Coast Solar LLC is one of the largest solar electric and thermal design/build contractors in the Southeast. SCS has installed more than 550 photovoltaic, solar thermal, and solar lighting systems at governmental, military, industrial, large commercial, schools, multifamily communities, and residential applications. SCS is a statewide electrical and solar contractor with NABCEP certified PV professionals on staff. Our turnkey solutions include energy savings analysis, system design, complete installation, utility interconnection and real time system monitoring. South Coast Solar is committed to providing renewable energy as a means to achieving energy savings solutions. To find out more, please visit southcoastsolar.com.
