Truckee High School student and volunteer Bella Bono has taken a big idea – plan, fund and install a solar array for the animal shelter - to reality.

Bella Bono has been volunteering for the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT) since she was 10. In April, going into her senior year this fall, Bono started planning the solar installation. Working with her father, Joe Bono, they planned to arrang a variety of donated materials and services, hold fundraisers for what wasn’t donated, and to complete a 5.5 kilowatt solar installation at the Animal Shelter building. Wrapping up the project this month, Bono hopes to have the panels up and running this fall.

“My biggest interests are animals and the environment, so I like to base my activities around both of those passions,” Bono said, who is also part of the Envirolution Club at Truckee High School.

The 22 solar panels and other equipment they plan to install should last about 25 years, saving the Humane Society and Town of Truckee an estimated $42,000 over that lifespan, Bono said, using the Truckee Donner Public Utility District’s net metering program.

“Bella approached us with a very impressive, very thorough proposal to do everything it takes without our staff or volunteers or financial resources,” said Stephanie Nistler, executive director of HSTT. “She is a really impressive young woman to take this on all by herself. Her motivation, her compassion for animals – she’s a really awesome kid.”

“From the town’s perspective, we love how Bella engaged with community members to carry this project forward. From lining up the contractors, to discussions with the town, to raising the funds. Bella has really put a lot of energy and passion into this project which ultimately saves money for the tax payers in our community,” said Dan Olsen, support services manager for the town.

Much of the solar equipment was donated by Solar Universe, Western Nevada Supply, and planning and installation is being donated by Mike Nethersole of MD Construction – all of which adds up to about a $6,000 value at wholesale, Bono said.

Bono raised an additional $4,000 to complete the project, hosting baby-sitting date nights at The Lodge at Tahoe Donner, a haircut-athon at Tangerine Aveda in Reno, selling a lot of cookies, and getting substantial donations from Jeff and Jules Schwerdtfeger and Amy Quigley.

“The solar panels will not only save the Humane Society and the Town of Truckee money, but fall in line with our values,” Nistler said. “We are an organization that really strives to be environmentally friendly, whether it’s cleaning up dog waste or building our shelter to LEED Silver certification standards. Converting to solar power is in line with what we believe in.”

About the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and the Town of Truckee: The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe was founded in 1994 by a group of volunteers. Shortly after establishment, the Humane Society and the Town of Truckee became partners and together have become the driving force of animal welfare in our region through rescue, protection, and adoption. The partnership has continued to grow over the past two decades, solidifying a long-standing partnership in September of 2013 by opening the region’s first public animal shelter...together. This facility, located at 10961 Stevens Lane in Truckee, maximizes efficiency and effectiveness by housing the public and private entities under the same roof.

The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is saving 100 percent of the community's adoptable homeless pets. In addition they rescue animals from overcrowded shelters whenever space allows.

Since opening the doors to their beautiful new shelter, they've increased their adoptions by 150 percent.

For more information, visit HSTT.org. For information about the Town of Truckee, visit townoftruckee.com.