Bella’s investigating solar rooftop

Bella’s Fat Cat owner Michael Schmidt wants to convert his restaurant’s rooftop to be more green, either incorporating solar photovoltaic panels, a rooftop garden, or some combination of both.

Schmidt is in the process of determining what kind of financing will be available to him before he determines what scale of solar project to pursue. We Energies’ Focus on Energy program may provide some incentives.

Schmidt, who also owns the Bella’s building at 2737 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., consulted with Bay View business Future Green, which assessed Bella’s roof for its solar photovoltaic potential earlier this year. Based on Bella’s 2,000-square-foot rooftop and the available sunlight, Future Green’s Swee Sim proposed three options. 

The biggest system would cover the entire roof with solar panels, capable of producing 20 kilowatts; the second would cover just the prime areas where there is “absolutely no shade,” said Sim, which could produce 16-17 kilowatts; the third would be a two-kilowatt system mounted on an awning behind the store, overhanging the parking lot.

One thing that’s driving the interest is the high cost of electrical bills. Sim said Bella’s electrical bill is big. “If I tell you, you will be shocked-$1,700 a month,” said Sim.

Schmidt told the Compass he’s excited about going forward with some scale of solar project and committed to getting something up on his roof in 2010.

For a photovoltaic primer by Swee Sim: click here.

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