SmartWay Partnership
Sierra Nevada joined the EPA’s SmartWay program in 2008 as a commitment to sustainable transportation. The SmartWay program allows progressive businesses to assess their current transportation standards and set goals to increase efficiency and awareness. Our action plan includes equipment upgrades, fuel efficient technologies, and extensive driver and staff training to educate them on our partnership and their responsibilities. We have also encouraged our shippers and carriers to become partners as well so that we can support the effort on a national level.

Biodiesel
In 2008, Sierra Nevada began a new program to utilize 100% of the spent vegetable oil from our Taproom and Restaurant as an alternative fuel source for our transportation fleet. Sierra Nevada purchased a Springboard biodiesel processor which produces 50 gal batches of biodiesel in 48 hours. The finished biodiesel is used in the Sierra Nevada Class 8 and local route trucks.

Hybrid Electric Local Route Truck
In April 2009, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was the first company in the United States to purchase a hybrid electric route truck from Peterbilt Motors Company. The new truck, a model 330 that will service local Chico routes, delivers 30% better fuel efficiency than traditional trucks and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

Rail Spur and Intermodal Transportation
In November 2008, Sierra Nevada completed the construction of its own rail car unloading facility less than 2 miles from the plant. Transporting Brewers Malted Grain the 2200 mile journey from Canada is made significantly more efficient by utilizing the rail system as opposed to hauling it by truck. One rail car can hold three and a half to four truckloads of material, uses less fuel, produces fewer emissions, and reduces traffic congestion on our roadways.

Sierra Nevada also utilizes intermodal transportation to ship much of its beer to the east coast. We deliver the trailer to Stockton, California where the entire trailer is put onto a train and then railed to distributors across the country. Multiple trailers can be transported by one train which dramatically increases the efficiency of our distribution.

Green Machine
How our employees transport themselves is also important to Sierra Nevada. Our Green Machine program encourages employees to ride their bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation. Employees can pledge to bike to work, for fun, or around town for errands and shopping.