Kilowatts that come with a cold one in Missoula, MT

Missoula Electric Cooperative installs solar panel array on roof of Bonner KettleHouse Brewery https://kettlehouse.com/bonner-brewery/ in expansion of its successful Solarshare program.

Missoula Electric Cooperative is expanding its successful community solar program, this time serving it up with a frosty glass of craft beer.

MEC is proud to announce the MEC Solarshare K3 Garden, a partnership with KettleHouse Brewing Co. to install 189 solar panels across the entire roof of the Bonner KettleHouse Brewery. MEC members will have the opportunity to purchase a share in the array, giving them access to renewable solar energy from a central location — plus a free beer every day they visit the brewery’s taproom in Bonner.

"For MEC members, the community solar program has all the benefits of solar energy without having to install panels on their roofs," said MEC General Manager Mark Hayden. "It’s more affordable, there’s no maintenance. They are doing something environmentally proactive; and when they participate in this installation, they can save money on beer as well."

When members purchase the output of one solar panel at the K3 Garden, Hayden said, KettleHouse will enroll them in its Renew-A-Mug Club, providing participants with one free beer each day they visit the brewery’s new Bonner taproom for the next 25 years.

KettleHouse, already a "member" of MEC’s Solarshare program, is eager to utilize more solar energy in its operations, said KettleHouse Brewery co-owner Tim O’Leary.

"Our love and appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors has always been intrinsic to everything we do at KettleHouse," O’Leary said. "Sustainable energy is key to preserving that beauty, so we are excited to participate in MEC’s Solarshare program and we hope to install more panels in the future."

Construction of the rooftop array began October 4, with power generation anticipated to begin in early November.

The output from one of the panels on the roof of the Bonner KettleHouse Brewery will be provided free to the brewery in exchange for providing the space to install the array.

Expanding MEC’s carbon-free footprint

MEC is fully committed to maximizing the use of affordable renewable energy and today has a portfolio that is about 95 percent carbon-free energy, Hayden said. Community solar installations are an increasingly important part of MEC’s energy portfolio.

"Purchasing the output of two panels will allow the average MEC homeowner to offset 5 percent of his or her residential energy usage," Hayden said. "When combined with MEC’s 95 percent portfolio of clean energy, homeowners, renters or businessowners who purchase the output of two panels can reasonably say their energy usage is 100 percent carbon-free."

Purchasing the output of one panel for 25 years costs $650 to MEC members. That investment will pay for itself over the course of 20 years, Hayden said — not counting the savings on beer.

This latest installation continues MEC’s use of innovative partnerships and placements of its solar panel arrays. Previously, the member-owned cooperative partnered with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation on a Solarshare installation located at the Co-op’s electric substation south of Lolo. A second Solarshare array was installed at Frenchtown Elementary School, in cooperation with the Frenchtown School District.

The output of those panels — 360 in total — sold out quickly to members.

"We really love working with other entities to expand Missoula’s solar footprint and are looking for new opportunities with other partners," Hayden said. "This program benefits our members and it benefits our planet. That’s good for everyone in the long haul."

About Missoula Electric Cooperative

Established in 1936, Missoula Electric Co-op is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative serving 11,500 members in six Montana counties and one Idaho county. http://www.MissoulaElectric.com