OAKLAND, Calif. – Two brewing companies, Coors and Peak Organic Brewing, have announced plans to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, GreenBiz.com reports. Colorado-based Coors’ plan would reduce its emissions by 12 percent by 2010; the emissions reduction would be tied to its production levels. Coors is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders Program.

On a smaller scale, Maine-based Peak Organic Brewing made a deal with Manhattan Beer Distributors in New York City to ship beer via the company’s 30 CNG-converted vehicles, which would save more than 227 tons of emissions in the coming years.

As the country’s third-largest brewer, Coors recently has begun to look at ways to decrease its energy use each year as part of its environmental initiatives. The company also will convert some of its waste into ethanol to sell on the open market.

This year, a combination of bad weather and supply problems have caused a supply shortage and price hikes in beer. Also, the demand for biofuels has driven up corn prices, causing farmers to switch from growing barley for beer to planting corn for fuel.