Maine Beer Co. and the town of Freeport both are honored by The Maine Conservation Alliance.

Maine Beer Co., which is generating half its energy from solar power, and the town of Freeport, which has helped residents with the price of installing solar panels, both received awards Monday for their leadership and achievements in solar energy.

The Maine Conservation Alliance presented Maine Beer Co. and the town with its Community Climate Champion Awards during a late-morning ceremony at the company’s location on 525 U.S. Route 1. Daniel Kleban, co-founder, represented Maine Beer Co., while Planner Donna Larson accepted the award for the town. State Rep. Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, who has championed solar energy in the Legislature, also was on hand. Beth Ahearn, program director of the Maine Conservation Alliance, made the presentations.

Maine Beer Co. won a solar energy grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Loan and Grant Program, to help purchase solar trackers installed there earlier this year. The solar panels power both the company’s brewery and its tasting room.

“We are honored that Maine Conservation is recognizing our dedication to the environment and hope that other businesses in Maine are inspired to invest in solar energy,” Kleban said last week.

Last winter, Larson concluded months of work arranging the best solar energy deal for Freeport homeowners, in a program called Solarize Freeport. The town contracted with Insource Renewables of Pittsfield and Assured Solar Energy of North Yarmouth to reduce the cost of installing solar equipment for through bulk purchasing, passing the savings along to homeowners.

“Solarize Freeport resulted in 40 homes converting to solar for a total of 238 kilowatts,” Larson said prior to the award presentation. “But even more important, other towns are using the same template to start programs in their own communities. Brunswick is close to announcing an installer, a group of communities in the Waterville area are developing a program and Saco is considering a program.”

Maine Beer Co. and the town of Freeport won Community Climate Champion awards Monday outside Maine Beer Company on U.S. Route 1. From left, are Rep. Sarah Gideon, D-Freeport; Daniel Kleban, co-owner of Maine Beer Co.; Beth Ahearn, program director of Maine Conservation Alliance; and  Donna Larson, Freeport town planner.Photo by Melisssa Mann.