Louisville, CO, July 6 2010 – Colorado State University’s recently completed solar energy system provides clean energy for the campus and shade for students, faculty and visitors parking at the Lake Street Parking Garage. The 132.5 Kilowatt solar electric system is the fourth project between Colorado State University and local solar energy provider, Bella Energy.

“Colorado State University has been committed to energy conservation on campus for many, many years,” said Carol Dollard, energy engineer for Colorado State University. “This solar project is one of the many tools in our toolbox and it’s an important piece of the joint efforts with the City and Colorado State to make the downtown area – including the main CSU campus – a net zero-energy district.”

“Bella Energy is extremely proud of our work with Colorado State University,” said Jim Welch, CEO of Bella Energy. “The company was founded in Fort Collins so it is always nice to do work in our hometown. Projects like these are a critical element of our ongoing growth as a company. This year Bella Energy slated to install over two Megawatts of solar energy systems, which is twice the business we did last year.”

July 21, 2010 –

WASHINGTON – Colorado Congressman Jared Polis, D-Colo., has introduced a bill to spark investment in small scale “distributed generation” solar projects across the U.S. and encourage long-term job growth in the solar industry.

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, D-Calif. is the bill’s co-sponsor.

H.R. 5763, the Solar Expansion of Distributed Generation Exponentially Act, would provide a two-year 20 percent increase to the current Investment Tax Credit for small solar systems (under 20 kilowatts).

Polis and Sanchez estimate their bill would create 83,000 new jobs in the manufacturing and installation sectors of the solar market.

They said the bill would add a projected additional 1,000 megawatts of new solar and more than $6 billion in new private investment, without the expensive infrastructure investments that accompany new centralized power sources.

“New solar power has been mostly confined to states like Colorado with solar-friendly regulations or large-scale projects that require expensive transmission infrastructure,” Polis said. “Solar could and should be an easy choice for every household or small business; every empty rooftop is a wasted opportunity.”

Jim Woolsey, former director of the CIA, will speak on renewable energy, distributing electricity from multiple locations and feed-in tariff policies from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 21, in room 235 at the University Memorial Center on the CU Boulder campus.

A panel discussion will follow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, at the same location.

Admission is $15 for the presentation Wednesday night and $50 for the workshop on Thursday. Lunch is provided.

An R.S.V.P. for both events is required at www.CommunityInPower.com.

It’s that special day of the year when local businesses give away free breakfast and people bike to work. Wednesday, June 23rd was bike to work day!

This year Bella Energy employees rode a collective 219 miles to and from work!

Listen to Bella Energy Vice President, Andrew Mckenna’s interview with Ryan Warner of Colorado NPR.

Andrew McKenna is on his third trip to the South Pacific with a team looking for evidence of what happened to famed aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared on a round-the-world flight in 1937. The team from The International Group For Historic Aircraft Recovery theorizes that Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, landed safely on the island of Nikumaroro but lacked the provisions they needed to survive for long. McKenna’s a solar energy executive from Boulder. Ryan Warner spoke to him by satellite phone from Nikumaroro.

Gov. Bill Ritter today completed a triumphant and historic legislative session by signing a final package of bills that solidifies Colorado’s standing as a national leader in the New Energy Economy. Gov. Ritter visited the Veterans Green Jobs workforce training facility in Denver for the signing ceremony.

Accompanied by lawmakers, business owners and clean-energy pioneers, Gov. Ritter praised the strong partnerships and innovative projects that are making Colorado a hub for the New Energy Economy. He thanked lawmakers for helping to push through 16 ambitious bills during this legislative session that are taking Colorado’s energy work to new frontiers.

“Since taking office in 2007, we have charged forward with a bold and ambitious agenda to make Colorado a national leader in the New Energy Economy,” Gov. Ritter said. “In less than four years, we have passed nearly 60 New Energy Economy bills that are sowing the seeds for a vibrant and sustainable future. We are creating jobs, attracting companies, reducing energy consumption and advancing high-tech projects that will continue to bear fruit for decades to come.

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BOSS: Building On-Site Seminar Series

Tour the Balsam Project. A new carbon neutral home on a hill in the heart of downtown Boulder, where functionality, meets style, meets sustainability. The Balsam project is partially powered by a Bella Energy solar pv system.

Register through the BGBG August 31, 2010 5:30 PM – 08:30 PM

The application due date for the Solar Homes Tour is June 4th, 2010! If you’re a solar homeowner and would like to submit your home to be on this year’s solar home tour please visit: http://www.conservationcenter.org/energy/tour.html

This year, the CRC has teamed up with CRES to promote a Front Range weekend of Solar & Green Homes Tours!

Save these dates!

Friday, June 4, Home Applications Due
Tuesday, September 21, CRES’ Solar Seminar at NREL, Golden
Wednesday, September 22, CRC & BGBG’s Building On Site Seminar, Boulder
Saturday, September 25, CRES’ Denver Area Solar & Green Homes Tour
Sunday, September 26, CRC’s Boulder County Solar & Green Homes Tour
Tuesday, September 28, CRES’ Solar Seminar at CRES’ building, Denver
Wednesday, September 29, CRC’s Solar Seminar at CRC’s building, Boulder
For sponsorship information, please email sandelman@conservationcenter.org.

Read about Boulder County Solar Week 2009 and the history of this event.

Everyone has their passions in life and the people of Bella Energy are no different. Sometimes, our passions and hobbies are newsworthy, and this post is one of those times. Our Vice President and COO Andrew McKenna is currently in the South Pacific with the TIGHAR expedition searching for evidence to support a theory that Amelia Earhart crash landed on a small island in the South Pacific. To learn more about this expedition view the following video and read Mr. McKenna’s statement.

Solving the Amelia Earhart Mystery from TIGHAR on Vimeo.

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