Brewery News: Bellingham: Aslan Brewing, Western Solar, and Itek Energy, to donate solar array to Lydia Place

Press Release

... Bellingham, Washington — Aslan Brewing Co., Western Solar and Itek Energy have partnered to donate a solar array for a new Lydia Place permanent housing property, saving them over $53k in energy savings and rebates over 25 years.

On June 30 at 6pm, Aslan is hosting a release party for Summer Solar Ale, a grapefruit pale ale perfect for sunny days. A portion of every purchase of Summer Solar Ale goes towards the solar panel package.

Lydia Place has been a local provider of housing and case management services to homeless households for over 26 years. Not only will adding solar panels reduce emissions and save energy costs, it will help support a vital community effort to end homelessness. Lydia Place plans to spend the savings from the solar panels on improving the support they can offer to the women they serve.

“Through this collaboration, our sponsors are demonstrating what we can accomplish as a community when we lead with generosity and creativity,” said Emily O'Connor, Executive Director of Lydia Place. “Even as homelessness continues to rise at an alarming rate, projects like this one renew our belief that together we can solve this complicated crisis.”

Recently, Lydia Place successfully raised the funds to open Baker Place, a permanent housing program that provides a safe, secure and collaborative living environment for up to seven homeless women at a time. The campus also includes two additional buildings that are owned and operated by Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services.

The solar panels are built by Itek Energy, a Whatcom County-based solar manufacturing company.

“This project highlights what is possible when community minded organizations come together for the greater good,” said Dana Hickenbottom of Itek Energy. “These itek Energy modules, built right here in Whatcom County, will generate clean energy from the sun for decades, lowering the operating costs of Lydia Place and allowing them to focus more resources toward their mission of helping women and children escape domestic violence."

Western Solar, another local company, will design and install the solar panel system.

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to blend the skills and passions of four outstanding organizations in our community,” said Markus Virta, Sales Engineer for Western Solar. “We are embarking on this campaign to create a safe and effective discussion about homelessness, empowering women locally, and the role of renewable energy in our changing economy and environment. It is inspiring to see these three issues intertwine in such a profound way."

Aslan Brewing Co.’s Summer Solar Ale — and the June 30 release party — will help fund this project.

“We’re stoked to support a project that incorporates so many of our core values,” said Jack Lamb, CEO of Aslan. “We’re constantly looking for ways to support our community and improve our planet, and providing solar panels for Lydia Place does both. For us, being a craft brewery is not just about brewing high-quality beer. It’s about bringing people together around important issues.”

Support clean energy and community empowerment by drinking delicious beer. There’s no better way to kick off summer!