A Vermont brewery plans to build the state's first large-scale solar panel parking lot installation.
Two canopies made of 400 solar panels will soon cover 31 parking spots at The Alchemist in Stowe. The brewery collaborated with SunCommon and Community National Bank for $500,000 project.
Alchemist co-owner Jen Kimmich says the solar project is a good example of how Vermonters can "produce clean energy without negatively affecting the natural beauty'' of the state. Kimmich says basic ingredients for beer like hops and clean water are threatened by climate change so the business had to make an effort to use clean energy.
The Alchemist's Waterbury location uses all solar power. Extra energy is donated back to the power grid and sent to a senior center.
