Mich. brewery gets fed grant for solar panel project

Elk Rapids, Mich. — The head on that Michigan beer? Thank taxpayers.

Short’s Brewing has received a $35,000 federal grant for solar panels at a production site in Elk Rapids in northern Michigan. The money comes from a rural development program.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow joined U.S. Agriculture Department officials at the brewery Friday. Short’s also has a pub in Bellaire.

The government says the solar panels will provide 7 percent of the brewery’s annual power needs, or enough electricity for four homes.