Serving up sustainability: How EnergySage helped Grey Sail Brewing tap into solar energy

“Today, our operation is powered by our solar panels,” says Grey Sail Brewing founder and owner Jennifer Brinton, a big smile on her face.

Jennifer and her husband, Alan, founded Grey Sail Brewing, where they produce beer and malt beverages. They also manufacture spirits and canned cocktails.

Owning a brewery in Westerly, Rhode Island, has allowed them to play an active role in their community. So, when they began their solar journey in early 2023, they saw it as an opportunity to give back.

“At Grey Sail, we’re a small family business,” Jennifer says. “And we knew from the start that we wanted to be a strong community member and advocate for the town of Westerly. Solar panels are a way of contributing environmentally to the community.”

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer, Alan, and their business partner, Chris Campagnari, began considering solar. They were looking for ways to save money, become more consumer-friendly, and stand out in the increasingly competitive brewing industry.

During the pandemic, many breweries—including Grey Sail—faced CO₂ shortages due to commercial rationing, significantly impacting production. In response, Grey Sail installed a CO₂ capture system.

“The CO₂  capture system is an environmentally better system since it captures our CO₂  that comes off of fermentation and reuses it,” Jennifer explains. “It also provided cost savings since it reduced our need for commercial CO₂ .”

Grey Sail’s carbon capture system sparked an interest in other ways the brewery could make an impact—and save money at the same time. 

“We were already in this business-strategic mindset,” says Jennifer. “Solar was the next step.”

Choosing a reputable solar installer was a critical part of Jennifer’s process. As a business owner, she knew she didn’t have the time or resources to manage a large project. So when Chris introduced her to EnergySage, she was intrigued—but skeptical. 

“Chris is a brilliant ideas guy,” Jennifer says. “He brought us to EnergySage and said, ‘They handle everything!’”

EnergySage does this for homeowners and business owners. When businesses consider solar, the first step is a consultation to assess whether and how solar can meet their goals. From there, EnergySage connects businesses with vetted, qualified local installers who provide tailored quotes.

“I was looking for the process,” Jennifer says. “Cost was certainly a factor, but it was really a matter of did they give me confidence in their process? Were they really going to take care of everything?”

Her concerns were quickly put to rest when EnergySage introduced her to John Fitzgerald Weaver from Commercial Solar Guy. 

"John gave me the sense that I could really trust him,” Jennifer says. “And now, looking back, I can honestly say that gut feeling I had when I first met him was spot on. He really did handle everything. I never even went to town hall for a permit.”

Grey Sail Brewing’s solar installation was completed in December 2023, which was an important factor to Jennifer:

“We were racing the end-of-year tax clock,” she explains. “A big part of solar is the tax credits. And I wanted to have something fully installed in the year you make the expense so you can get the benefits of the tax break. Our installer was instrumental in this and worked very hard to that end.” 

Grey Sail Brewing installed a 52kW solar panel system:

• Size of system: 52kW

• Solar panels: Q Peak Cells G9.3 440W

• Module count: 120 modules

What surprised Jennifer most was how attentive the Commercial Solar team was. 

“As with anything in manufacturing, especially when dealing with electrical and mechanical systems, you’re going to run into bumps in the road,” she explains. “But the team handled every bump in the road and they handled it quickly. John was even instrumental in selecting different parts of the supply chain that were important to me.”

Now that their system has been up and running for a full year, Jennifer has seen both financial and community benefits.

“It’s great to be able to share that we had this very positive experience in the process. –As well, we’re seeing the benefits on our electric bill,” she says. “We’re seeing the benefits of about an 18-20% drop in our usage, which translates to a greater amount in cost. It really helped augment the savings that we are seeing from solar.”

To this day, Jennifer still gets customers and businesses coming in and asking her about the solar panels.

“My advice to other businesses is: explore,” she says. “Have the conversation and learn—like I did—that the solar installation can be a simple process for the business owner. And the benefits can outweigh the cost. Some things are going to come up, but if you choose the right supplier or the right vendor, like we did with Commercial Solar Guys, they're going to take care of it.”