Fort George Brewery to receive $1 million grant to install solar array
Published 4:30 pm Thursday, April 18, 2024
- Fort George Brewery plans a solar array at the old Astoria Warehousing property.
Fort George Brewery will receive $1 million in federal funding toward a renewable energy project for their property off Marine Drive.
The money is part of $4.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program in Oregon.
The goal of the project at Fort George is to lower the cost of electricity for the brewery and rely more on renewable energy.
The project’s cost is estimated at around $2.4 million to $2.6 million. The solar array is expected to replace 81% of the brewery’s energy with renewable electricity and cut the brewery’s annual costs by over $60,000.
“We’ve been wanting to do it for a few years. We’ve been applying for a lot of grants. We’ve got commitments now from Blue Sky and REAP. We can do it. It’s really what it took to be able to sign the paperwork and get the contractors going,” Chris Nemlowill, the president and co-founder of Fort George Brewery, said.
According to Nemlowill, the brewery will receive $100,000 from Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program.
Fort George Brewery recognized the potential for a solar array when the company purchased the former Astoria Warehousing property along the riverfront several years ago. “Our company’s been very rooted in doing everything we can sustainably and being really proactive,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden — Oregon Democrats — sought the money for the brewery as part of federal funding from the USDA for renewable projects across the state.
In a statement, Merkley said that many small farms, ranches and businesses in Oregon try to lean into renewable energy with the goal of being sustainable and to lower operation costs. “Unfortunately, the upfront costs of making that switch often leave rural businesses stuck with outdated energy infrastructure and higher monthly bills,” the senator said. “This federal funding from REAP is critical to help rural Oregon businesses overcome financial hurdles and realize energy-efficient projects that are good for both their pocketbook and the planet.”
