AMITY TWP., Pa. – A statewide environmental group looked to learn more about one of the first businesses in Berks County to go solar.
Officials with PennEnvironment toured Manatawny Creek Winery in Amity Township.
The winery installed solar panels in 2007, and now those panels are near the end of their life span.
The panels offset 25% of the winery’s annual energy usage.
PennEnvironment says the business could be an inspiration to others.
“Pennsylvania currently gets only 4% of its electricity from those kind of renewable sources, I think even less than 1% from solar itself,” said Belle Sherwood, climate and clean energy advocate with PennEnvironment. “So there’s a lot of room to grow. Manatawny is a great example of, you know, someone that’s had solar for a long time, but can be an inspiration to other businesses in the area.”
Officials say solar technology has come a long way since the winery installed the panels.