Salt Lake County Chooses NexGen Energy and Bella Energy to Develop Largest Solar Rooftop Project in U.S.

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

The team presented a plan to install up to 2.6 megawatts of solar modules on the structure. If built to that capacity, the Salt Palace will host the largest rooftop solar facility in the United States, generating more than 3,330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year, while reducing the building's consumption by 25%.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy team won a competitive RFP process that took four months and began with twelve applicants. The county informed NexGen Energy of its decision late last week. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

NexGen Energy, a leading owner and operator of distributed renewable energy systems, will own and operate the facility and sell the power to Salt Lake County at a fixed rate. Bella Energy, a highly respected solar electric systems integrator based in Colorado, will design and install the project.

"Today the Salt Palace is setting a national example for renewable energy," said Ted Rose, Vice President of NexGen Energy. "With a ground-breaking public-private partnership driving it, this project will place Utah at the forefront of solar development. It proves once again that large rooftops can successfully provide power from the sun that benefits both the environment and the bottom line."

"Bella Energy has worked diligently to make the project a reality," said Andrew McKenna, Vice President of Bella Energy. "Our  three decades of experience in solar installation will serve Salt Lake County well.  Bella Energy is committed to growing Utah's distributed solar generation and will employ as many as 35 local workers and subcontractors during the construction of this project."

NexGen Energy will sell the energy generated by the solar panels at a predictable rate for 20 years. The final contract will include an option for the county to purchase the system in the eighth year. NexGen Energy has retained the renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the project.

About NexGen Energy Partners

http://www.nexgen-energypartners.com/

NexGen Energy Partners, LLC is an owner and operator of distributed renewable energy systems sited at customers' facilities. The company works with governments, schools, businesses and utilities across the nation to deliver its customers the benefits of clean energy without the capital investment and technical risk.  NexGen Energy is based in Boulder, Colorado.

About Bella Energy

http://www.bellaenergy.com

Bella Energy is a solar design/build company that has implemented more than 5 megawatts (MW) of solar projects throughout the Rocky Mountain region.  Since 1982, Bella Energy has grown into the Rocky Mountain region's solar leader with 35 employee-owners working at the company headquarters outside Denver and in Salt Lake City . Bella Energy's projects can be found across the Western United States and in eight foreign countries.

SOURCE Bella Energy