Bella Energy Completes Largest Solar Array in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Denver, CO-based Bella Energy has completed the 1.65 megawatt solar array atop the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Covering 3.85 acres of rooftop, the project is currently the largest solar photovoltaic system on Rocky Mountain Power’s entire electric grid. It is also the largest solar array in Utah.

The 6,006 solar modules will produce an estimated 2.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity in its first year, covering approximately 17 percent of the Salt Palace’s annual electrical usage. Project development began in 2010 and construction began in December of 2011 and took about six months to complete.

The array required more than 14,000 man-hours from local labor. There were zero change orders, zero OSHA violations and no injuries. The project is the result of efforts from multiple parties including, Salt Lake County, Bella Energy, CarbonFree Technology, Chase Bank, Rocky Mountain Power, the National Development Council, Zions Bank, Ballard Spahr, Suntech, Solectria Renewables and Unirac.

Financing the 1.65 megawatt project was achieved using a mix of grants, bonds, public and private capital. The project also holds the distinction of being one of the first solar projects in the nation to utilize the New Market Tax Credit.

“Financing this project required a lot of sweat equity and 14 months of hard work to develop a funding package that would satisfy the needs each party,” said Andrew McKenna, executive vice president of Bella Energy. “I’m thrilled to see all that hard work finally capturing the power of the sun.”