Happy Energy Action Month!

5 Questions with Alysa Remsburg from SOLS

Alysa Rembsburg is the director of Solar on La Crosse Schools, an all-volunteer group with a mission to educate, advocate, and fundraise to make solar energy a reality sooner for the School District of La Crosse.

Their group's work is emblematic of energy action and we here at KEEP can't think of any better way to recognize Energy Action Month than learning a bit more about them.

How did SOLS get started?

SOLS got started in early 2020 when a few of us who have long been concerned about climate change found something tangible we could tackle. We had no doubt that solar energy would be a big part of our community’s future. Making it a reality sooner for schools was something we could make progress on as a team.

A Clean Schools toolkit from the Sierra Club outlined steps for working with school districts to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. We heard that the Couillard Solar Foundation had grants for half of the solar panels, and an anonymous donor was stepping up to pay for much of the rest. This inspired us to help connect others to make a difference.

We were impressed to learn that the School District of La Crosse was already tackling lots of energy efficiency steps such as converting to LED lighting, and that they were very open to solar energy.

We partnered with the La Crosse Public Education Foundation as our fiscal sponsor and began fundraising solely to add solar panels to La Crosse schools.

What was SOLS' first big accomplishment?

Our first solar installation was an off-grid single panel that lights up the sign for Summit Environmental School. The accomplishment was getting this installed and then hosting a press event at the winter solstice to draw attention to our work. We’re always thrilled and grateful when the local press show up to help tell our stories, even on very cold and very hot days!

When our first major rooftop project was installed six months later (summer solstice 2021), the Midwest Renewable Energy Association also showed up to capture our story on video. At Hamilton Elementary/SOTA 1, we facilitated a grid-tied solar project of nearly 300 solar panels and 100 kW.

What SOLS project has been the best for teaching?

The SOLS donation that I’ve been able to use the most for teaching about energy is a 600 W portable solar-powered battery. We’re able to monitor energy coming in and out of the battery, while using the sun to power things like a fan, hair dryer, and even chocolate fondue. Kids can make guesses about which appliances in their lives use the most electricity and how long it takes to charge a battery.

The solar ovens we donated to Northside/Coulee Montessori have also been outstanding for prompting people to ask questions. We’ve used them so far to cook rice, marshmallows, and cheesy nachos.

What has been the biggest obstacle for SOLS?

It has been a challenge to keep students and teachers involved as SOLS volunteers and planners. We want to include their voices but also acknowledge the many pulls for time and attention. We had a phenomenal founding SOLS member who graduated from high school and moved on to Madison. Our small planning team is not yet connected to every age group.

What is your advice for others looking to take energy action?

Doing something, even if it’s not enough, is an important way to manage anxiety about climate change. It is also fulfilling to find out others have been watching and getting inspired. As psychologists demonstrated in the “Smoky Room Experiment,” people spring into action not when they see smoke in the room, but when they see other people springing into action. And since we are such social beings, why not have fun while working with other fun people on a good cause? We just keep going with one step at a time, and slowly the resulting donations make real progress happen for our community.

Renew Our Schools

Electric School Buses

Schools around the state are starting to receive buses purchased through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program. KEEP's Student Resource Specialist Heather Phelps had the chance recently to examine one on display at the Central Wisconsin State Fair.  

One of five electric buses operating in Granton Area School District since last spring, the buses have been a hit with students and drivers alike.  

Electric School Buses have a range of advantages, including reduced engine noise (allowing drivers to better hear what’s going on in the back of the bus), reduced fuel costs, reduced maintenance costs, reduced particle emissions that can cause health and respiratory issues to students on the bus and those living nearby, and, of course, reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Electric school buses may even be a method of stabilizing the grid in the future – these batteries on wheels could spend summer months charging during the day when solar production is at its peak, and then selling that electricity back to the grid after the sun goes down.  

While the higher prices of electric school buses and the need to also install charging stations are still a challenge, grant and rebate programs such as through the Clean School Bus Program have brought the benefits of electric school buses to schools across Wisconsin and the country.  

Nor is it just school buses – as of September 22, Madison’s Bus Rapid Transit route went live with all-electric buses.  

It’s exciting to see these ways that schools and communities across the state are becoming greener and healthier! And with applications for the next round of funding now open, who knows, maybe your school could be next.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Where will KEEP be this fall?

Stop by and say hello as we attend conferences around the state this fall.

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The KEEP program is funded with generous support by Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric, We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, WPPI Energy, and Xcel Energy. 

Published October 2024