Bella Energy’s installation of solar-electric systems on eight Boulder County buildings should be capable of producing 869,100 kW hours of electricity per year — enough power to offset 6 percent of of the county’s current electricity demand. The estimated $1.5 million project will be capable of producing 869,100 kW hours of electricity per year — enough power to offset 6 percent of Boulder County’s current electricity demand.

Bella Energy said this week that the solar systems being installed on the $1.5 million project will be part of the largest municipal solar-electric project in the Rocky Mountain area. The project is part of Boulder County’s Sustainable Energy Plan to reduce the county’s impact on global climate change and to reduce costs by increasing energy efficiency.

Because Boulder County is not eligible to receive federal incentives for renewable energy systems, a third-party partner will own the solar systems and collect the federal incentives, credits and deductions for the installation. The company will also sell the power to the county, under a unique financial partnership.

After seven years, the county can buy the systems at a fair-market value. Boulder County Commissioners have set aside $1.5 million for the purchase.

“Over the life of the system, the average amount of what the county will pay per kilowatt hour for electricity produced by the new solar systems will be half of what we currently pay to Xcel Energy,” said Keith Ickes, Boulder County’s Administrative Services Director.