Kentucky Distiller's Pollution Prevention Partnership

Subcontract Scope of Work for Kentucky Distiller’s Pollution Prevention Partnership Subcontract Project Title: Pollution Prevention in Emerging Distilleries (P2ED) Summary of Strategy and Approach: The Beam Institute proposes Pollution Prevention in Emerging Distilleries (P2ED) as a two-phase initiative to reduce GHG. For this initiative, the Institute will design and implement a P2 learning program for existing craft distilleries and a P2 learning program for distillery startups in the pre-design phase. New and existing craft distillers will be given the tools to make substantial reductions to their GHG emissions. P2ED will be both an education program and a tool to establish a positive energy culture within these small businesses. Partnerships: The Beam Institute will partner with the Kentucky Distillers’ Association to connect with new and emerging distillers throughout Kentucky and in neighboring states through associated distillers’ guild communities. The Beam Institute will partner with the American Distilling Institute to disseminate GHG best practices through ADI’s extensive network of potential new distillers. Finally, the Beam Institute will partner with the online Society of Spirit (SoS) community to engage distillers in GHG reduction across the US. Amplifying P2 Best Practices: During Phase 1 of the project, the Beam Institute will develop two (2) education programs aimed at two key points of intervention for GHG reduction. The Beam Institute will develop an education program aimed at existing craft distillers, where staff will provide a 30-minute introduction, then spend the afternoon shadowing operations staff, and finally follow up with that distillery’s decision makers. The Beam Institute will also develop an education program for groups interested in starting a distillery. The goal is to communicate GHG reduction opportunities that are more cost effective in the facility design phase. We will compile best practices that are ideal for implementation prior to the construction of craft distillery. For each program, the Beam Institute will work collaboratively with industry experts to highlight the most impactful strategies for small production volume facilities common to craft distilling. Additionally, the team will compile strategies highlighted in the Energy Efficiency and Cost Saving Opportunities for Distilleries document developed by the EPA and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. We expect Phase 1 to be complete by March 1, 2025. In Phase 2, we deploy education programs to twenty (20) distillers across all target groups. The start of Phase 2 is designed to coincide with the 2025 Beam Institute’s Annual Industry Conference which brings together >1,200 distillers at the University of Kentucky. We will dedicate an entire programmatic track to distillery sustainability, and we will use this platform to invite all distillers to use the resources developed by the Beam Institute and KPPC. Key conference events include a pre-conference workshop on sustainability tools, presentations on successful GHG reduction projects, an expo to promote P2ED services, and a roundtable lunch for distillers to share GHG reduction strategies. Our collaboration with the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) will allow us to connect directly with a community of >100 Kentucky distillers, including many distillers in the design phase for their production facility. Additionally, KDA hosts a national meeting of distillers’ guilds at the Beam Institute conference each year, where we will connect with distiller networks in neighboring states. Each Fall, the project team will visit the annual trade show for the American Distilling Institute (ADI). Dr. Brad Berron (Beam Institute) is on the scientific review board for the ADI’s research program, and the Beam Institute will be present at this meeting to promote P2ED services. ADI’s trade show is well known for attracting craft distillers and groups interested in starting a distillery. Our collaboration with the online Society of Spirit (SoS) will allow us cost-effective dissemination to an online community of over 300 distillers across the United States through their discord server. Our digital outputs will be advertised to this community, and the Beam Institute will cohost livestreaming events for GHG reduction in craft distilleries. These dissemination efforts are designed to be synergistic with Project A (KPPC work scope) and will redirect any larger distillers towards their impactful portfolio of tools. Documenting Pollution Prevention Best Practices: Video recordings of GHG reduction presentations at the 2025 and 2026 Beam Institute Industry Conference will be made available to all 1200+ attendees and any interested party by request. Videos of presentations at the 2025 and 2026 ADI meetings will be made available to their full membership, including over 2000 conference attendees. Video recordings of the SoS GHG presentations will also be posted to the discord server for access by any interested distillers. The Beam Institute will develop four (4) NEA #1 cases studies, each in both video and pdf format.