North Denver’s very own Denver Beer Co. has joined a state pilot program to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during the beer-brewing process and use that carbon to cultivate cannabis and stimulate plant growth.
On Jan. 29, Denver Beer Co. co-founder Charlie Berger joined Gov. Jared Polis at the capitol to announce a pilot program focused on energy usage and environmental responsibility in the cannabis and beer industries.
The state said the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Carbon Dioxide Reuse Pilot Project is the first of its kind to establish the commercial exchange of recovered carbon dioxide. Denver Beer Co., The Clinic and Earthly Labs are partnering together and with the state to pioneer this new technology.
While rising CO2 concentrations in the air are the main culprit behind climate change (because the gas traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere), numerous studies have shown that concentrated CO2 increases photosynthesis, which spurs plant growth.
Using Earthly Labs’ carbon capture hardware (CiCi), Denver Beer Co. can capture more than 100,000 pounds of carbon each year — reducing CO2 emissions and costs while also enhancing beer quality. Earthly Labs’ technology allows for energy-efficient CO2 capture, purification and reuse of carbon dioxide from small-scale sources, allowing companies like Denver Beer Co. to exchange its carbon byproduct with plant growers who need it, like The Clinic.
“This pilot program provides a roadmap for the beer and cannabis industries for how to reduce their carbon footprint and increase the efficiency of their operations,” said a press release issued by the governor’s office.
“We are committed to taking the necessary steps to improve our air quality and reduce harmful emissions,” said Polis. He noted that the program combines a few of the things that Colorado is known for: environmental responsibility, craft beer and cannabis. “I applaud our state agencies and private partners for working together on these innovative programs to help protect the Colorado way of life.”
“Denver Beer Co. is proud to work with The Clinic and Earthly Labs in pioneering this new exchange market. This innovative technology will greatly reduce our carbon emissions and carbon footprint,” said Berger. “At Denver Beer Co., we believe in the importance of environmental stewardship. We have one planet and we believe it is our corporate and social responsibility to help conserve and protect our resources.”
Denver Beer Co. is independently owned and operated, with its taproom and beer garden located at 1695 Platte St. in the Lower Highlands and its canning facility located at 4455 Jason St. in Sunnyside. The company uses locally-sourced grain and 100% clean solar power to produce its award-winning beers.
For more information, visit denverbeerco.com and earthlylabs.com.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Mims, The Clinic. Pictured, from left, Kaitlin Urso (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), Chris Baca (The Clinic), Amy George (Earthly Labs), Brian Cusworth (The Clinic) and Charlie Berger (Denver Beer Co.) in front of the tanks where Co2 will be stored before being vaporized into a gas and filtered into The Clinic’s cannabis plants.
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