THIS BUD’S FOR NEW ENERGY

Is there any real significance to this?

Anheuser-Busch Inc.’s 12 U.S. breweries are installing bio-energy recovery system (BERS) and/or accessing other sources of New Energy. BERS technology turns brewing wastewater into biogas that generates electricity.

The company expects to brew an average of 1 in 7 beers on New Energy by the end of 2009.

Significant or greenwashing?

Definition of greenwashing: “…a term used to describe the perception of consumers that they are being misled by a company regarding the environmental practices of the company or the environmental benefits of a product or service… coined by suburban NY environmentalist Jay Westerveld in 1986, in an essay regarding the hotel industry's practice of placing green placards in each room, promoting reuse of guest-towels, ostensibly to "save the environment"… The term is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being green (that is, operating with consideration for the environment), rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices… A commonly cited example of greenwashing is the George W. Bush Clear Skies Initiative, which environmentalists have argued actually weakens air pollution laws.”

If NewEnergyNews had that hip, edgy quality so popular at The Drudge Report (kidding), it would declare for or against greenwashing. Sorry. Eye of the beholder.

The case that it IS greenwashing:
Doug Muhleman, group vice president/Brewing Operations and Technology, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.: "We have great employees who work hard every day to ensure our breweries are conserving water, energy and raw materials as part of our Blue Ocean initiative, an enhanced productivity plan to deliver more than $1 billion in savings through 2010…we're examining everything we do to make sure we are brewing our beers in a way that's efficient, considers our environmental impacts and maintains the high standards of quality our customers expect when they drink a Budweiser."

Uh-huh. 1 out of 7 beers is not a lot to brag about, Doug.

The case that it IS NOT greenwashing:
A member of the U.S. EPA Climate Leaders Program, Anheuser-Busch is pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 2005 levels and up its use of New Energy to 15% by 2010 for all U.S. operations.

President Bush has committed his administration to similar action - in 20 years.

Like the proverbial Bud, this choice is for you.

One last thought: Plaudits to Anheuser-Busch for making biogas from its waste and not trying to get on the AGROfuel bandwagon.

click to enlarge

Alternative Fuels Power Anheuser-Busch Breweries; One in Seven Anheuser-Busch Beers Will Be Brewed Using Alternative Fuels by End of 2009
July 30, 2008 (Anheuser-Busch/PRNewswire via COMTex/Market Watch)

WHO
Anheuser-Busch, Inc ; Ameresco McCarty Energy; Allied Waste Services

WHAT
Anheuser-Busch, Inc is installing bio-energy recovery systems (BERS) and/or accessing other sources of New Energy to achieve its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 2005 levels and upping its use of New Energy to 15% by 2010 for all U.S. operations.

click to enlarge

WHEN
- 1990: 1st annual Anheuser-Busch "Green Week."
- All 12 Anheuser-Busch breweries will be operating on New Energy sources by the end of 2009.
- Waste recycling goes back to the brewery’s late 1800s practice of turning recycled brewers' grain into cattle feed.
- 2007: 4 billion pounds of spent grain, beechwood chips, plastic, glass cullet, cardboard and metal recycled.

WHERE
- 8 of the company’s 12 U.S. breweries have installed BERS and are using other New Energy sources.
- Breweries in Houston, Tx., and Fairfield, Calif., are installing technology that will be operational by the end of 2008.
- The 11th BERS will be installed at the Williamsburg, Va., brewery in 2009.
- The Fort Collins, Colo., brewery does not operate a BERS but nutrient-rich brewery wastewater is passed on for use on local crops.

WHY
- Landfill biogas and a bio-energy recovery system (BERS) will provide the Houston facility with 70% of its energy.
- Ameresco McCarty Energy will build a 6-mile pipeline to supply the Houston brewery with landfill biogas now being flared by an Allied Waste Services facility.
- BERS technology will supply 15% of the Fairfield plant’s electricity and a SunEdison-operated on-site 1.18 megawatt solar installation will provide 3% more.
- The solar system will also generate Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) the brewery will sell to offset greenhouse gas generation.
- Anheuser-Busch is also considering wind, solar, wood and landfill gas sources at other breweries.
- The 12 U.S. breweries also recycle/reuse 99%+ of brewing/packaging process solid waste.
- Brewery employees are encouraged to conserve energy, water and raw materials and recycle in daily brewery operations and at home through company environmental fairs and the company's annual "Green Week."
- Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer and recycler of aluminum cans.

Have a good weekend. Don't drink and drive. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Doug Muhleman, group vice president/Brewing Operations and Technology, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.: "We have a long history of protecting and preserving the environment, and these projects will move us closer to our goal of running our U.S. operations on 15 percent renewable fuel by 2010…It's part of our pledge to be better environmental stewards of the world we share."