Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

UW-Platteville to Build 2.4MW Solar Array

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 02/23/21

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has received approval from the state to erect a 2.4-megawatt solar array on its campus. According to the university, this will be the largest solar array owned by a Wisconsin state agency and will make the campus the sixth-highest on-site producer of renewable energy in the country among institutions of higher education.

According to a university article on the project, the array will feed directly into the main electricity meter connected to the 32 campus buildings, generating all electricity in real-time, rather than sending it back to the grid. The solar is expected to offset electricity by 17%, saving an annual $217,000 and reducing carbon emissions by 2,300 tons per year. The campus also hosts a wind turbine and a smaller rooftop solar project on its Engineering Hall.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Solar Array
The existing solar array on the rooftop of Engineering Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Source: University of Wisconsin-Platteville

The project was instigated when some 300 students at the school signed a petition in 2018, asking the administration to achieve 100% renewable energy for the campus by 2030. In the following year, 82% of students agreed with the goal in a referendum. The array is one of several projects now being advanced by the university to achieve carbon neutrality.

A chain-link fence will surround the array, which will be installed with pilings. The array is expected to have a 30-year life and is designed to accommodate future battery storage.

The array work is also providing students with opportunities for hands-on learning. Faculty are incorporating related projects into their coursework. Students in a sustainable and renewable energy systems course helped design the initial project. Dairy science students formed a plan for sheep grazing under the array. And reclamation, environment and conservation students developed a native pollinator seeding plan for the space.

"We are excited to take this momentous step in our commitment to sustainability," said Chancellor Dennis Shields in a statement. "These efforts will save taxpayer money and have a lasting impact on future generations of Pioneers."

The array is scheduled to be operational by fall 2021.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.