From the Denver Post: Unity Church of Boulder will not only be offsetting close to all of its energy use with a new solar panel array, but will have enough power left over to sell back to its utility provider.

During the past six months, the congregation raised $100,000 though donations and fundraisers to buy 233 solar panels that will be installed on the church’s roof next week.

More than 40 panels will be engraved with the names of people who donated $1,000 or more to the project.

“We want to be light bearers that share the light with God,” said Jack Groverland, the church’s senior minister. “When we think of light, we think of solar, so this is a very beautiful project to align ourselves with.”
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Congratulations to the Oceanic Preservation Society and Louie Psihoyos for winning the Oscar for Best Documentary last night!
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Louisville, CO, March. 3, 2010 – The future is looking bright for students at Kent Denver School, thanks to one of the largest prep school solar energy arrays in the nation.  Colorado-based Bella Energy and international solar provider Conergy partnered to provide the school with a fully engineered and financed solar energy solution.  
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What is Xcel Energy’s 120% Rule? John Shaw of Bella Energy discusses with SolarDave.com

Louisville, CO, Dec. 31, 2009 - Solar financing for non-profits and faith communities is often hard to find in these tough economic times. Thanks to a new program, developed by Colorado-based solar integrator Bella Energy, non-profit solar financing has finally reached Colorado.

Community Solar Partners is a unique solar financing program that has taken 3 years to develop. The program was designed to help non-profits and faith communities make critical investments in their infrastructure while reducing the price of investing in solar by about 30 percent. The first solar project financed under Community Solar Partners was recently completed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, of Denver, CO.
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Every so often we like to post interesting tid bits from the world of renewable energy to our twitter page. Here are a few of the more interesting stories of the past month in case you missed it. Enjoy!

• Further Proof of Dirty Coal Just One More Reason to Green Your Home Energy Use : Planet Green http://bit.ly/5GTIDF
• Cool stuff for the future!Amazing Glitter-Sized Photovoltaic Cells Look Like Golden Snowflakes | Inhabitat http://bit.ly/8pDCxH
• One Year Later, TVA Coal Ash Spill Problems Still Far From Over : TreeHugger http://bit.ly/5UIPLZ
• Analyst: Solar Cell Demand to Overtake 2009 Overcapacity – Renewable Energy World http://bit.ly/7tqQYN
• Inhabitat » Solar-Powered Plane Takes Maiden Flight http://bit.ly/5DouB6
• Vancouver 2010 Promises Greenest Olympic Games Ever | Inhabitat http://bit.ly/8tikBb
• Renewable Power of Destruction on Flickr http://bit.ly/5bE3qC A little fun to help warm you on this bitter cold day

Well the new year is almost upon us and we here at Bella Energy would like to wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

John Shaw of Bella Energy discusses solar power optimizers with Solar Dave of solardave.com

Season’s Greetings from Bella Energy!

It’s not everyday there is an international meeting to discuss climate change in a building that shares the same name as your company. (Bella) Needless to say we are following the climate talks in Copenhagen and have been twittering little tidbits as we hear about them.

As previously posted, Alison Brown, a former Bella Energy employee is in Copenhagen reporting on the talks.

Here is the latest post from her experience there:

The Bella Center is filled to capacity with people, hopes, and excitement. Rumors are flying, and the excitement is growing. Today is the last day that all accredited people are allowed into the center, tomorrow only a third of civil society can enter, and the numbers will continue to shrink until Friday when no civil society will be allowed in. With little time left in the center, a certain level of frenzy is taking over the centers. At the same time, negotiators are ramping up for constant negotiations through Wednesday night.
At 1:30 youth lined the halls of the center carrying flags from every nation representing youth solidarity in our demands. We stand with the small island states. We stand with Bangladesh’s demands. We stand with Scotland. etc. I was holding Bahrain’s flag right standing between a Chinese guy holding Ecuador’s flag and an Australian guy holding a flag I couldn’t identify. The message was clear — we are all in this together regardless of nationality, age or political beliefs.
Impressively, this action was designed only 15 hours ago, the flags and signs were only finished printing minutes before the action began. It is this unity that is giving the youth movement its power. Faced with the promises of stalled talks, and unambitious resolutions at best, the youth has resolved to only grow their presence and influence in the coming months.

While contagious and powerful, this incredible drive to push the negotiators into a deal is also prompting confusion and rumors. Just over an hour ago cheers filled the hall saluting Canada for announcing emissions targets matching the IPCCs recommendations . A half hour later, the promise was proved to be a hoax.

But now, I must go attend the US youth planning meeting.