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This story is so Colorado…
The Denver Beer Co and The Clinic, one of Colorado’s longest-running cannabis dispensary chains, have partnered with Earthly Labs, a public benefit corporation dedicated to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from small scale emission sources, to implement the company’s innovative carbon dioxide capture technology as part of a State of Colorado pilot carbon dioxide recovery program. 
The new program explores the capturing of excess carbon dioxide produced during the beer fermentation process for later reuse by cannabis cultivators that require carbon dioxide to stimulate plant growth during cultivation.
The beer-brewing process…specifically, its fermentation stage… naturally produces carbon dioxide.
While beer makers use carbon dioxide to carbonate beer and pressurize lines throughout their facility, the current practice for most brewers, especially smaller-scale craft brewers, is to vent carbon dioxide from fermentation and purchase carbon dioxide from an outside source for carbonation.
Using the Earthly Labs technology, brewers can instead capture and store excess carbon dioxide for use by cannabis growers. The exchange fills a need for both industries while reducing carbon dioxide emissions in Colorado.
“This is a classic win-win-win scenario,” said Kaitlin Urso, environmental protection specialist for the small business assistance program at the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division… “We’re connecting companies that have excess carbon dioxide with companies that need it, and in the process we’re reusing CO2 that would otherwise be released directly into the environment.”
Beginning in January, carbon dioxide produced by the beer brewing process at Denver Beer Co. will be captured using Earthly Labs’ system and will then be transferred via holding tanks to The Clinic where it will be released to stimulate marijuana plant growth. The brewery can capture over 100,000 lbs/year with this technology.
Charlie Berger, co-founder of Denver Beer Co was clearly ‘elated’ to be part of this innovative pilot program…
“Denver Beer Co. is proud to work with The Clinic and Earthly Labs in pioneering this new exchange market. This innovative technology will greatly reduce our carbon emissions and carbon footprint. We have one planet and believe it is our corporate and social responsibility to help conserve and protect our resources.”
The legal marijuana industry is a large market for carbon dioxide consumption, as carbon dioxide is used to grow premium product in a condensed time span and increase yields. Carbon dioxide is a key component in the cannabis plant growth process as the plant translates light into the energy needed for growth.
And Brian Cusworth, director of operations for The Clinic was equally ‘high’ on the test program…
“The nation is watching Colorado to see how cultivators of legal marijuana handle our responsibilities to our customers, our community and our planet. With our participation in this project, we’ll demonstrate how an ethical, civic-minded cannabis industry can make a difference while still engaging in smart business practices.”
“Earthly Labs’ vision is to capture and avoid 1 billion metric tons of CO2,” said CEO Amy George. “The State of Colorado is leading the charge in the country to promote small scale carbon capture investment to meet their 2030 goals. We are thrilled to help these industry pioneers reduce costs, drive innovation, and improve the quality of life in Colorado.”
