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Contact: Debbie Wilmot Public Information Officer City of Lafayette www.cityoflafayette.com [EMAIL REDACTED] 1290 S. Public Rd Lafayette, CO 80026 Phone [PHONE REDACTED] ext.3455 Page 1 of 2 News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The City of Lafayette to construct two solar gardens totaling 1MW of capacity through Xcel’s Solar*Rewards Program 25 low income “subscribers” will receive discounts of up to fifty percent off Xcel energy bills LAFAYETTE, Colo August 29, 2012 – The City of Lafayette has been accepted into an innovative partnership with Xcel Energy to construct two solar gardens generating a total of one megawatt of electricity. City facilities will utilize the majority of electricity generated by these gardens resulting in cost savings and the offset of 1,034 metric tons of carbon dioxide. In addition to directly subsidizing the City's energy use, the solar gardens’ discounted electricity output will be offered to 25 low-income Lafayette households. This valuable opportunity will be provided free of charge to the first 25 applicants who qualify. There are no service fees or application costs involved. The program is simply Lafayette's way to share the less expensive, clean energy with those residents who can use it most. The deadline to apply is September 30. Applicants can anticipate up to a 50% discount off existing Xcel bills. This savings will continue for as long as the recipient resides at the address, and can be transferred to a future address within the Xcel service area. Application materials and program qualifications can be found at www.cityoflafayette.com . According to Curt Cheesman, Director of Recreation and Facility Management, “The solar garden project is a unique, cutting edge opportunity that reinforces Lafayette’s identity as an environmentally forward community. I envision our efforts and focus to continue expanding in this arena.” Lafayette is a leader in Colorado for clean energy implementation. They were first in the state to collaborate with the Governor’s Office to complete a comprehensive energy audit encompassing all municipal facilities. This project produced $1.2 million in energy improvements resulting in a 25% yearly energy cost savings to the city and an annual reduction of 966 tons of carbon dioxide. Lafayette is currently involved in renewable energy generation through five solar photovoltaic systems on city owned facilities as well as a methane gas project at ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 City of Lafayette the wastewater treatment plant generating heat for a portion of the wastewater treatment process. An electric vehicle charging station and three electric bike charging stations were installed in 2012 offering free charging locations throughout town. The formation of the eight member Lafayette Energy Sustainability Committee has provided assistance to identify strategies to reduce Lafayette’s contribution to total global greenhouse gas emission. For additional details pertaining to the Xcel Solar*Rewards solar garden project, see the following press release from project partner Community Energy Solar. ---PAGE BREAK--- Contacts: Community Energy: Eric Blank [PHONE REDACTED] Joel Thomas [PHONE REDACTED] City of Lafayette Debbie Wilmot (303) 665-5588 ext. 3455 Community Energy Partners with City of Lafayette, Colorado to launch Innovative “Solar Gardens” Power Project Xcel awards Community Energy Solar with 1 MW of capacity in the City of Lafayette (Boulder, CO, August 24, 2012) – Community Energy Solar (Community Energy) today announced that it has received one megawatt (dc) of capacity in Xcel’s Solar*Rewards Community standard offer program. With this capacity, two solar gardens are made possible through a visionary partnership between the City of Lafayette, Community Energy and Bella Energy and when built will produce enough energy to power more than 180 homes. The solar gardens will be located on two unique parcels of property, adjacent to the City of Lafayette’s water reclamation treatment facility on E County Line Road. The Xcel program was initiated by the 2010 Colorado Community Solar Gardens Act. Solar Gardens are special because the solar power can be used to benefit off-site premises. This model enables solar facilities to be constructed at ideal locations, and provides solar to those who want it, but cannot host it themselves. Off-site entities participate as “subscribers.” Subscribers sign up for a share of the solar garden, and receive a credit on their Xcel bill each month based on how much energy their share of the solar garden produces. “This is a great step toward local, clean energy independence which lowers energy costs for the public as well as low-income populations,” said Gary Klaphake, City Administrator of Lafayette. In addition to the City of Lafayette benefitting from the green energy production, a portion of the output of each solar garden will be dedicated to low-income individuals in Boulder County. The City of Lafayette is contributing the land for the solar gardens at no cost, which makes it possible to donate the output at no cost to ---PAGE BREAK--- low-income subscribers in these solar gardens. Community Energy estimates that income-qualified participants will be able to reduce their electric bills by about fifty percent. According to Xcel, anyone who earns less than 185% of the federal poverty line is income-qualified. Community Energy is seeking approximately 25 income-qualified subscribers for these solar gardens. “The City of Lafayette has been a champion of renewable energy in Colorado for many years. This project allows for the further expansion of the City’s leadership and provides a unique opportunity for some of its low-income residents to participate in free green energy. We are proud to partner with such a visionary and forward-thinking municipality,” said Eric Blank, President of Community Energy Solar, LLC. The solar gardens will supply about 1.5 million kilowatt hours per year of solar generated electricity to Lafayette. The annual environmental benefit equals that of about 213 zero-emission passenger vehicles or 27,883 newly planted trees growing for ten years. Bella Energy, a commercial solar contractor, is serving as general contractor to complete construction, targeted for 2013. “We could not be more proud to be a part of two, clean, community oriented solar projects which are just down the road from our headquarters. This is the greenest of the green–local jobs building fuel-free solar power that will serve the community for decades,” said Jim Welch, Bella Energy CEO. About Community Energy Community Energy has led renewable energy development in the U.S. since its founding in 1999. After leading the early wind efforts in Colorado, the founders of CE brought to market some of the first wind development in the Eastern U.S. at the start of the decade. In 2009 the company expanded into solar project development in states with new solar targets, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina and Puerto Rico, as well as Colorado and Arizona. CE continues to lead the industry by backing utility power purchase agreements with innovative retail renewable energy marketing and hedge products. High profile projects built by CE include the 6 megawatt project in Lancaster County, the 7.8 megawatt Vineland Solar Project in the City of Vineland, NJ, the 24 megawatt Bear Creek Wind Farm in the Poconos, PA, and the 7.5 megawatt Jersey Atlantic Wind Farm in Atlantic City, NJ. For more information visit www.communityenergysolar.com About the City of Lafayette The City of Lafayette, Colorado is located in southeast Boulder County, 18 miles north of Denver and 10 miles east of Boulder. The City prides itself on its forward thinking and small town atmosphere. A panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains inspires their view into the future for the 25,000 residents who call Lafayette home. Lafayette was the first city in the state to collaborate with the Governor’s Office to complete a comprehensive energy audit encompassing all municipal facilities. This project produced $1.2 million in energy improvements resulting in a 25% yearly energy cost savings to the city and an annual reduction of 966 tons of carbon dioxide. The City is currently involved in renewable energy generation through five solar photovoltaic systems on city owned facilities as well as a methane gas project at the wastewater treatment plant generating heat for a portion of the wastewater treatment process. The City also recently installed an electric vehicle charging station and three electric bike charging stations ---PAGE BREAK--- About Bella Energy Bella Energy is a commercial solar developer and project contractor. We provide our clients with turnkey solutions including design, engineering, financing, and project construction. With operations across the United States we have helped over 600 clients save money with long lasting solar solutions. To learn more about commercial solar installation visit http://www.bellaenergy.com