New Belgium Brewing Joins Growing BICEP Business Coalition Advocating Strong Energy, Climate Policies
(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) January 27, 2011- BOSTON - New Belgium Brewing, the nation’s third largest craft brewery, today announced it is joining the fast-growing Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP) coalition, a group of major American businesses pushing for passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation in the U.S.
“New Belgium has long strived to be a sustainable business role model, but we also recognize that legislative advocacy is vital to creating the conditions for widespread sustainable business practices,” said Jenn Orgolini, Sustainability Director at New Belgium. “We view BICEP as our ally in D.C., giving us the opportunity to join other business voices in advocating for aggressive energy and climate policies that address the tremendous challenges and opportunities facing our country.”
New Belgium Brewing, based in Fort Collins, CO, is considered a leader in sustainable business practices in the craft beer industry. In 1998 New Belgium became the first brewery in America to subscribe to wind energy for its electrical needs. The brewery currently produces 15 percent of its electricity onsite, by harvesting methane from its process water treatment facility to fire a co-generation engine. New Belgium recently installed the largest private solar array in Colorado at 200kW and boasts one of the lowest water-to-beer production rates in the industry.
“In our current economic and political climate it’s more important than ever to have business voices stepping forward in support of progressive energy and climate policy,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, a leading coalition of investors and environmental groups that coordinates BICEP. “These policies are a win-win for our environment, our global competitiveness, our health and for American workers. So we welcome New Belgium Brewing, and its commitment to sustainability, as the newest member of the ever-growing BICEP family.”
New Belgium Brewing is the 19th announced member of the fast-growing coalition, and more new members are expected shortly. Current BICEP members also include Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Starbucks Inc., Aspen Skiing Company, Ben and Jerry's, Best Buy Co., Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Eileen Fisher, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, The North Face, Seventh Generation, Stonyfield Farm Inc., Symantec, Target Corp., The Timberland Company and Outdoor Industry Association.
Within months of its founding with just five charter members BICEP became a leading business voice for comprehensive energy and climate policy in the last Congress, where such legislation came closer than ever to becoming a reality. The U.S. House passed comprehensive legislation in June 2009, and a Senate coalition headed by Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and Independent Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut sponsored similar legislation for the Senate. The Obama administration has also been active in pushing for comprehensive energy and climate action.
The BICEP coalition is coordinated by Ceres, which also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of more than 90 institutional investors with nearly $10 trillion under management focused on addressing the financial risks and investment opportunities posed by climate change.
More about BICEP’s core principles for energy independence and climate policy can be found at: http://www.ceres.org/bicep
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