End of the year industry reports showed that the United States wind market declined in 2010, with only five gigawatts of power installed nationwide, half of what was put in the ground last year. Meanwhile, the solar industry got a big boost in the form of a ban prohibiting the military from purchasing commercial solar panels from countries that don’t buy American. The WTO Government Procurement Agreement blocks the Department of Defense from buying solar panels from China, a country that has not signed the agreement, and the world’s leading manufacturer of solar panels. (more…)

The US government has decided to finally utilize the solar resources of the Mojave Desert. In a recent landmark decision, President Obama signed off on the Blythe solar project, the largest solar energy project ever planned on US public lands. The $6 billion development is expected to span seven thousand acres of land near the Arizona border, about two hundred twenty five miles east of Los Angeles. (more…)

The cost of coal is going up, and it isn’t because of the prospect of climate legislation or cap and trade. Short and simple, demand is beginning to outpace supply. East coast coal reserves are declining, and growing foreign demand is projected to skyrocket. As reported by the Denver Post, in only 13 months from September 2009 to November of 2010 the price of coal more than doubled, from about $6/ton to over $13/ton.

Over 60 percent of Colorado’s electricity comes from coal, and for Colorado businesses the going rate of our most common fuel will have a dramatic impact on the cost of doing business. Add to this, Xcel Energy’s plans to convert coal plants to more costly natural gas powered systems, and it is little wonder why more and more business and property owners are looking to supply a portion of their own power needs with solar energy.
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The energy-efficiency and renewable energy features of Colorado homes will soon be factored into a home’s valuation as part of a new initiative led by the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO). The initiative, which includes leaders in the real estate, lending and appraising industries and energy efficient experts, will add energy and related “green” features to various multiple listing services (MLS) across the state.

The unfolding effort to add the “green” factor to real estate listings will make it easier for buyers, appraisers and lenders to understand a home’s energy efficiency qualities, as well as reward sellers for the energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades in which they’ve invested.
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Bella Energy’s very own Jim Welch and Ron Barness have made their way into the Utah press coverage of the new Salt Palace Project. If built today the Salt Palace Convention Center system would be the largest rooftop solar array in the United States.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Read more at : The Salt Lake Tribune

Listen to NPR’s coverage by clicking here!

Boulder, Colorado. Sept. 1, 2010 – Salt Lake County has chosen NexGen Energy and Bella Energy to develop a solar installation on the roof of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

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We’re moving on up in the world thanks to a new television spot with our commercial solar energy partner at Channel 7 here in Denver! Thanks to their new system the Channel 7 24/7 Weather Center is now power with solar energy. Check out our latest news story for more details…

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…)