Fort George Brewery has completed the installation of the largest private solar array on the Oregon Coast, marking the largest single-building private solar project in state history. The 560kW system, consisting of 1,155 solar panels atop the brewery’s 67,000-square-foot waterfront facility, is expected to generate over 70% of the energy needed to power its operations.
The installation, nearly complete, was made possible with over $1 million in grants from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and $100,000 from Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program.
“This project wouldn’t have been possible without contributions from REAP and Pacific Power’s Blue Sky participants,” said Berit Kling, Pacific Power’s senior product manager.
Fort George Brewery, founded in 2007, has grown from a small operation into one of Astoria’s largest independent employers with over 150 staff. The company has long been committed to sustainability, with initiatives such as a hybrid-electric vehicle fleet and a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system.
The brewery’s solar array is expected to offset carbon emissions equivalent to planting 207,210 trees or avoiding the use of 1 million gallons of gasoline over its 35-year lifespan. In addition, Fort George has pledged to donate 1% of sales from certain product lines to environmental organizations through its partnership with 1% for the Planet.
The solar array is set to become operational later this year.
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