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.

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

Join Hunter Lovins at the Boulder Chamber to learn how sustainability can solve the energy crisis while also saving your business money.

7:30 am-9:00 am APRIL 13 2010 at The Boulder Chamber: 2440 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302

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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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From the Denver Business Journal - Xcel Energy Inc. on Monday said electricity bills for its Colorado customers will rise, collectively, about $52.7 million for the second quarter of 2010 to cover higher natural gas costs to fuel power plants and buying more power on the wholesale market.

Residential and small-business customer bills are expected to rise about 8 percent, the utility said.
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DENVER – The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today approved seasonal tiered electric rates for Xcel Energy in which residential customers will pay more for higher usage during peak summer months and less during other non-peak times.
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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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