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OKLAHOMA CITY (Apr. 19, 2022)– Vanessa House Beer Company announced today it is making sustainable progress by becoming the first brewery in Oklahoma to serve craft beer brewed by the sun. Vanessa House will release its first batch of sun-brewed beer at an Earth Day celebration for the public from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Friday, April 22 at 118 NW 8th Street, Oklahoma City.
Vanessa House partnered with local solar energy company, EightTwenty, to install a 60.8 kW, 135-panel solar system to power the operations of their business. The solar install, which was completed in Oct. 2021, helps to offset the brewery’s utility costs, maximize energy efficiency, and increase the sustainability of its operations. So far, the energy production of Vanesa House’s solar system has removed over 52,700 pounds of carbon emissions, the equivalent of planting 395 mature trees in downtown Oklahoma City.
“I’m excited to say Vanessa House is now a producer of energy, not just beer,” said Evan Smith, co-owner of Vanessa House and President of the Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma. “Installing solar with EightTwenty is another step in the right direction of reducing our environmental impact and serving as a steward of our community. By using the sun to brew our beer, we are also minimizing major operational costs, allowing us to continue to innovate and grow our business.”
“We are proud to empower local companies like Vanessa House with the resources needed to live solar,” said Tony Capucille, Founder and CEO at EightTwenty. “This solar power plant will allow Vanessa House to offset their utility costs, maximize the energy efficiency of their business, and increase the sustainability of their operations to help foster healthier communities.”
For its Earth Day celebration, EightTwenty will be sponsoring “Live Solar” branded pint glasses for the first 50 customers to purchase the new beer on tap. The first 50 individuals to sign up for a solar consultation with EightTwenty will also receive a free beer ticket.
The sun-brewed beer that will be served is an IPA titled Always Sunny In Rad City. It is a tip of the hat to the building’s owner, Adam Fink, who spearheaded the solar install. Fink, an OKC developer and President of the neighboring Elevated Paver Systems, paid for the solar install on Vanessa House’s roof and is looking to power additional building space with solar moving forward.
“It’s exciting to see Vanessa House powering their operations with the sun,” said Fink. “As a landlord, it’s a no-brainer to use natural resources to meet the energy needs of our tenants and reduce the overall carbon footprint of our facilities. In the future we plan to add solar to the other two spaces next to Vanessa House, and we look forward to partnering with EightTwenty on those projects as well.”
The family-friendly Earth Day celebration will include pop-ups promoting sustainability in Oklahoma by EightTwenty, Fertile Ground Cooperative, OKC Beautiful, Urban Agrarian and more, plus food by Let’s Do Greek from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm. This will be followed with live music by Beau Jennings from 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
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EightTwenty exists because we believe our greatest resource, the sun, is underutilized- that responsible, advanced stewardship of the sun’s power can lift up our communities for generations to come. We are here to honor that belief by providing services and products that empower individuals and communities to harness solar energy for their own independence; instilling trust in all that we do. To learn more about EightTwenty, visit: www.EightTwenty.com.
Vanessa House Beer Company is a craft beverage production company that has served the Oklahoma City community and beyond since 2016. Founded by five friends who met while attending the University of Oklahoma, Vanessa House has established themselves as an innovative member of the Oklahoma craft beer community by staying on the cutting edge of what craft can be. Vanessa House continues to explore new styles while trying to add fun to the beer scene.To learn more about Vanessa House, visit: www.vanessahousebeerco.com
