Originally published November 29 2005
Colorado businessman leads his community toward green energy
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Marty Schlein, owner of Blue Sky Woodcraft in Colorado, has installed solar panels on top of his business in an effort to move away from coal-based energies that pollute the environment of his community.
Packed with giant band saws, a massive lathe that dates to before World War II and other high-powered wood sculpting equipment, Marty Schlein's Blue Sky Woodcraft is a testament to the passions of a craftsman.
Below a shining white and blue wooden whitewater dory Schlein built by hand for navigating the chaotic rapids of the Grand Canyon, a thin plywood sign declares the place a "temple of fine woodworking."
Schlein is known for building boats and fine furniture, but soon he and his business may be known for his other passion: operating his home and business with renewable energy and reducing his "carbon footprint."
Most of the electricity powering the lights in the Roaring Fork Valley comes from coal-fired power plants which pollute the atmosphere to some degree.
Because of the scarce availability of "green" energy, most valley residents have no other choice but to use electricity generated from a non-renewable resource.
Blue Sky Woodcraft is one of the first businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley to install a solar, or photovoltaic, power system that will generate enough energy to power the business while selling the excess electricity to Holy Cross Energy.
It's a "grid-tied" system, Guillot said, which means that the Holy Cross electric grid acts as a "battery."
While the solar cells are producing energy during the day, Schlein's meter will run backwards, generating electricity for the entire grid.
Most of Holy Cross' electricity is generated from the Haden and Craig coal-fired generating stations, said Holy Cross member services representative Craig Tate.
Holy Cross offers a $2-per-watt rebate up to 25 kilowatts per installation for those who generate renewable electricity using wind, hydroelectric, solar, biomass or geothermal technology.
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