This month, attendees at Denver's Democratic National Convention will get a taste of what it's like to be 100-percent carbon-free, as some vehicles provided for delegates, staff, media, and other special convention guests will run on beer.
It seems that every year, Golden, CO-based Coors Brewing Co. produces approximately 3 million gallons of beer that never meet the lips of beer-lovers. Instead, the waste beer is converted into ethanol that, according to Coors, has eliminated up to 70 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from its emissions annually since 1996.
This year, Coors will donate its biofuel to make the DNC a greener place, thereby earning itself the title Official E85 Ethanol Producer for the 2008 DNC. The fuel will power some 90 biofuel-capable and hybrid vehicles that are part of a 450-vehicle fleet furnished by the DNC's official vehicle provider, General Motors.
"We are grateful for Molson Coors' [Coors' parent firm] donation of cleaner-burning fuel to ensure we host the greenest national political convention to date," said Denver mayor John Hickenlooper (himself a microbrewer). "From fueling a national conversation about sustainability to fueling convention vehicles, we're working toward a green convention on every front," he said.
According to Molson Coors CEO Leo Kiely: "Bill Coors used to say that waste was a resource out of place—that thinking still drives us today to recycle, reuse, and reduce our consumption of energy and materials when and where we can. We are pleased that our waste beer can fuel the convention fleet and help support an environmentally conscious convention."
Originally published Aug. 11, 2008