Along with its hoppy beer, the Alchemist brewery is hoping to produce energy for the community

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WEBVTT AT THE ALCHEMIST BREWERY ARE HELPING TO PRODUCE CANS OF THA HOPPY BEER. A NEW GOAL IN MIND, PRODUCING ENERGY. VERMONT IS NO STRANGER TO SCENIC VIEWS BUT THE PARKING LOT AT THE ALCHEMIST BREWERY IS PROBABLY NOT INCLUDED IN THAT CATEGORY. >> WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO USE THAT SEA OF BLACK TOP AND TO PUT SOLAR PANELS. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN PRODUCE CLEAN ENERGY WITHOUT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE BEAUTY OF OUR STATE. JACKIE: THE BREWERY IS INSTALLING NEARLY 400 SOLAR PANELS IN THEIR LOT STOWE WHICH COULD PRODUCE ENOUGH ENERGY TO POWER ONE THIRD OF THEIR OPERATION. >> HOPEFULLY A YEAR FROM NOW WE WILL BE MORE THA 100% SOLAR POWER IN OUR BREWERIES. >> WHEN WE BUILT SOLAR POWER AT OUR HOMES, BUSINESSES, OR IN OUR COMMUNITIES, GENERATING THE POWER WHERE IT’S BEING USED. JACKIE: THESE COMMERCIAL SIZED SOLAR CANOPIES ARE A FIRST FOR VERMONT. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKING LOTS VERMONT. WE ARE EXCITED TO HELP OTHER BUSINESSES MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE AND IN OUR OWN BUSINESSES. JACKIE: ONE STEP IN THE GOAL OF HAVING ZERO IMPACT IN THE ENVIRONMEN >> THE BIGGEST THREAT TO OUR BUSINESS THE ENVIRONMENT. IT IS REALLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INVEST IN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND CREATE AS MUC CLEAN ENERGY AS WE CAN. JACKIE: THE ALCHEMIST’S OTHER LOCATION AND WATERBURY IS MORE THAN 100% SOLAR POWERED SOVIET STRATEGY THEY DONATE TO A LOCAL SENIOR CENTER. HOPING TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE. WHEN THEY GO IN THEY WILL BE TAKING ENERGY FROM THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM AND COVERING SEVERAL DOZEN SPOTS. PEOPLE ARE HERE THEY WANT TO CLEARING OFF T

Advertisement Popular brewery builds Vermont’s first large-scale solar-covered parking lot Along with its hoppy beer, the Alchemist brewery is hoping to produce energy for the community Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Popular Vermont brewery, The Alchemist is implementing a unique project at its Stowe brewery to reduce its environmental impact. The parking lot will hold two large canopies made up of nearly 400 solar panels, making it Vermont’s first large scale, solar-covered lot."I think this is a really great example of how we can produce clean energy without negatively affecting the natural beauty of our state," The Alchemist co-owner Jen Kimmich said. "I mean, it's a parking lot."A bonus feature of the canopies: They cover 31 parking spots in the lot, so guests in the winter will not have to worry about dusting off their cars.The brewery teamed up with SunCommon and Community National Bank to fund and complete the project with a hope to reduce its environmental impact. "When we build solar power at our homes," SunCommon James Moore co-owner said. "At our businesses or in our communities, really generating the power right where it's being used is the most efficient and the strongest clean energy grid."SunCommon says it hopes the project sets an example for other businesses."We have a lot of parking lots in Vermont," Moore said. "We're excited to help other businesses make that investment in our clean energy future and in their own businesses."The owners of The Alchemist say the project cost more than $500,000, but that it's a worthwhile investment."The biggest threat to our business is climate change," Kimmich said. "The three main ingredients in our beer are hops, malt and water -- clean water. And all of those are threatened by climate change. So it's really our responsibility to invest in innovative technologies and create as much clean energy as we possibly can." The Alchemist's other location in Waterbury is already more than 100 percent solar-powered, donating the extra power back to the grid, where it is sent to the Waterbury Senior Center.