The School District of La Crosse commissioned a 97.68 kW solar electric system on the new portions of its Hamilton Elementary School in the summer of 2021. The solar array, installed by Solar Connection, Inc., fully utilizes the new roof surface, completely offsetting the added energy consumption of the addition. The system is expected to save the District $383,265 in electrical costs over its lifetime.

The project was largely funded by an anonymous donor, but its full scope was made possible by additional contributions, community support from Solar on La Crosse Schools (SOLS), a $25,000 grant from the Left Coast Fund’s Solar Moonshot Program managed by Hammond Climate Solutions, and an in-kind grant from MREA’s Solar on Schools program, which expanded the nearly 300 panel installation by 50 kW.   

• Learn more about the project via the Solar on La Crosse Schools: Hamilton Elementary case study.
• Get in touch with Solar on La Crosse Schools (SOLS) to learn how you can help solarize more of the school district.
• View resources and help your school go solar by visiting midwestrenew.org/solar-on-schools.
• Solar-curious schools can contact Mike Freybler, the Energy and Transportation Manager for the School District of LaCrosse at mfreyble@lacrossesd.org.