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Lake Superior and Sunshine. Can you think of a better way to make fresh, craft beer in Duluth?
Well, that’s exactly what Canal Park Brewing Company is doing with the help of 38 brand new solar panels on their roof.
The 7-year business is hoping the move will help their brewery become more sustainable and decrease their carbon footprint.
Upon the sunny rooftops of Canal Park brewing sit dozens of freshly installed low profile solar panels. “Literally, these solar panels just went up in the last couple of weeks,” says Paul Kaz, Co-Owner of Canal Park Brewing.
Thanks to Midwest Wind and Solar in conjunction with Energy Insight and Minnesota Power, the panels have already been put to use.
Kaz says, “We are just taking steps to be more environmentally conscious and doing our part what we can. And I think it’s important for us as a business to lead the way.”
The brewery, being no stranger to sustainable practices. “Our equipment is very energy efficient we also are recycling a lot of our hot water to use for our brewing system.”
And their efforts are being noticed nationwide. “We’re brewing with solar energy technically so we’re in a contest.” A contest to recognize the business as America’s favorite Solar Craft Brewery. CPB is the only solar brewery in Minnesota in the contest.
The co-owner says the company wants to lead the charge, in hopes that sustainable practices will catch on throughout the city. “On an individual level we can all do some small part and we are just doing our small part. […] Hope that people would support this idea and hopefully do it themselves and any small way that they can whether it be solar panels or any other ways of being energy efficient.”
The brewery also uses LED lighting, energy efficient heating systems, and will soon have a TV-Screen set up in the restaurant showing everyone how the solar energy is being put to use.