The company is getting hit hard with demand charges for its electricity use. It actually paid more in 2016 for demand charges, than its normal electric bill. Now, Sierra Nevada is looking to Tesla Powerpack energy storage technology to solve the problem. During peak times, the brewery can draw from the Powerpack, rather than incurring the additional charges. This also helps to ease the stress that the massive facility puts on the area's power grid.

Some wineries have turned to this type of technology, and while there are few, Sierra Nevada isn't the only brewery headed in this direction. The Maui Brewing company also installed Tesla Powerpacks. In Colorado, a study was performed that made lithium-ion electrodes from brewery wastewater. We will begin to see more companies, especially those like Sierra Nevada, with roots in sustainable practices, turning to similar concepts.