Superior, CO, August 11th 2010 – The Town of Superior, and Bella Energy have contracted to install 198 kilowatts of solar energy. The new solar power plants are scheduled for completion by the end of 2010, and will provide energy for the Town’s water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities. These systems will produce more than 280,000 kWh of electricity, which represents more than 8 percent of the Town’s total electrical consumption.

“I’m excited to see this project move forward. It is one more step towards the Town achieving the Board’s goal of becoming an energy neutral community,” said Mayor Muckle.

Thanks to the new solar systems, the Town will reduce its utility bill by more than $14,000 annually; and will receive renewable energy credits (REC payments) from Xcel Energy in the amount of $22,800 annually. In total, the Town’s investment will produce an immediate and perpetually positive cash flow, estimated in excess of $500,000, over the anticipated 25-year life of these solar panels.

“Bella Energy is very excited to work with the Town of Superior to build these new systems.” Said Jim Welch, CEO of Bella Energy. “Projects like these are a critical element of our ongoing growth as a company. This year Bella Energy is slated to install over two Megawatts of solar energy systems, which is almost double the business we did last year.”

Denver, CO – A partnership between 7News and Bella Energy will power the 24/7 Weather Center with solar energy. The new solar array provides enough power to offset over 25,000 lbs of carbon emissions every year and will make the 24/7 Weather Center one of the only clean energy broadcast segments in the country.
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Louisville, CO, 2010 – Colorado’s Army National Guard Readiness Center in Grand Junction, CO is now capturing the power of the sun thanks to a new solar electric installation from Bella Energy. The new 172 Kilowatt solar array provides enough power to offset 450,000 pounds of carbon emissions and represents another step forward in the Army’s pursuit of national energy security. (more…)

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.”

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.

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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