PHILADELPHIA, July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yards Brewing Co., one of Pennsylvania's largest breweries, is leading the effort in the brewing industry in Pennsylvania for a cleaner environment. Based in downtown Philadelphia, Yards selected Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. (WGES), a leading supplier of electricity and natural gas in the mid-Atlantic, as their electricity supplier.  WGES will supply 100% CleanSteps (SM) WindPower to Yards, helping to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power is the world's fastest growing energy source and produces no air or water pollution.

Yards Brewing Co. is dedicated to "going green" in an effort to create a better, cleaner future: "Our green power purchase just makes sense – it fulfills our business philosophy and falls in line with our community efforts to be more environmentally sustainable," said Yards Owner and Founder Tom Kehoe. "We hope to lead by example, and that other Philadelphia businesses will make the switch to clean power," adds Director of Operations, Steve Mashington.

"WGES is very excited to be able to help Yards Brewing Co. meet its environmental goal of reducing its carbon footprint," said Harry Warren, President of WGES. "Yards Brewing Co.'s purchase of 100% WGES CleanSteps (SM) WindPower is equivalent to burning approximately 52,000 fewer gallons of gasoline or taking 91 cars off the road for one year."

Using wind power does not require the installation of any new equipment or wiring.  When residential and commercial customers choose WGES CleanSteps (SM) WindPower, WGES notifies the local electric utility company of the change. Customers continue to receive one monthly bill from the local electric utility, with WGES charges reflected as a separate line item. The utility continues to deliver electricity, read meters and respond to power outages.

Consumers may learn more about WGES and its CleanSteps (SM) products for residential and commercial customers by visiting WGES at www.cleansteps.com or www.wges.com, or by contacting a Customer Care Agent at 1-888-884-WGES (9437).

About Yards
Founded in 1994 by Tom Kehoe, Yards Brewing Company has quickly become Philadelphia's leading craft brewer. Originally producing cask-conditioned ales out of a small garage-sized brewery in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, Yards has expanded three times, most recently to a new state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility on Delaware Avenue to satisfy demand for its Signature, Seasonal, and Revolutionary Ales. Yards Brewing Company is Pennsylvania's first 100% wind-powered brewery. Yards earned the 2009 Penn Future Green Power Turn it On! Award and was named the 2010 Green Business of the Year by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Brewery tours are available every Saturday from noon to 4 pm. The Tasting Room is open Monday – Saturday: noon – 7 pm and Sunday: noon – 4 pm. The Tasting Room is also available for private events. Learn more about Yards Brewing Company at yardsbrewing.com.

About WGES
Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. is one of the largest competitive providers of electricity and natural gas in the mid-Atlantic region, and supplies over 357,000 customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  Headquartered in Herndon, VA, Washington Gas Energy Services is an affiliate of Washington Gas and a subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:WGL). For more information, visit www.wges.com.

SOURCE Yards Brewing Company; Washington Gas Energy Services