It doesn't taste like sunshine, but sunshine plays a role in producing the liquid refreshment that comes from the taps at the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery.

The sunshine is part of the energy-efficiency improvements at the restaurant and brewery, upgrades that includes a solar photovoltaic system made possible by a $19,000 New Hampshire Electric Co-op incentive.

During the business's $2.5 million new construction and renovation project, NEHEC relocated a three-phase electric service entrance on Main Street, which enabled the installation of the 54-panel solar system, an ozone cleaning system for the inn's laundry, energy-efficient lighting and four air-source heat pumps for heating and cooling.

According to owner Scott Rice, "The folks at the NHEC devoted a lot of time going through all sorts of options 'til we finally came up with a plan that worked for my business."

Rice made those energy improvements investments with the help of more than $107,000 in incentives from Co-op Energy Solutions.



- Sara Young-Knox