Virginians featured in project highlighting “Voices for 100% Renewable Energy”
Environment Virginia
For more information: Anna Hofmann – (202) 461-2453
Today, Environment Virginia announced two Virginia residents as leading voices for clean energy. The Virginians are profiled in a national project, Voices for 100% Renewable Energy, featuring photos, testimonials, and videos from a wide array of individuals from across America – from academics, to mayors and other public officials, to community leaders, to business and non-profit leaders – embracing a massive transition to clean energy.
The Virginians featured in this project are Becky and Scott Harris, owners of the Catoctin Creek Distillery Company in Purcellville, Virginia.
“We’re inspired by people like Becky and Scott who know we can, and must, shift to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Rob Sargent, Energy Program Director with Environment America. “We’re thrilled to share some of their stories through this project. Our hope is that it will motivate the many folks who know we need a swift, steady, and complete transition from dirty to clean energy to lean into the effort.”
The people featured in the project cited a range of environmental, economic, equity, social, and health benefits from the transition to 100 percent renewable energy. Most focused on the urgent need to eliminate climate-altering carbon pollution. Others simply believe that it’s common sense and good economics to save energy and to harness unlimited, pollution-free energy sources.
Becky and Scott Harris own the Catoctin Creek Distillery Company, an artisan whisky distillery in operation since 2009. In 2013, they moved to a new location within Purcellville and decided to install solar panels to power their operations. “We now have about 80 percent of our electricity needs fed by our solar plant on our roof,” Becky and Scott explain. “Going solar also allowed us to walk the walk in our sustainability efforts. Since our entire operation is organic, and we also have a zero-waste production process, it was imperative that we find a way to reduce our energy profile. Solar was the right solution for us, as we were able to install a 44,000 Watt array on the roof with little impact to the look and operation of our business.”
“For years, we’ve been told that pollution from dirty fuels was the price we had to pay for progress,” said Anna Hofmann, a clean energy associate working with Environment Virginia. “Those days are over. My confidence that we can make the shift to clean renewable energy has been boosted by the conversations I’ve had with so many people we’ve profiled in the Voices for 100% Renewable project.”
To view Voices for 100% Renewable Energy, go to www.100percentrenewable.org.
