Schmeeckle solar panel array
Solar panel array and EV charging station

Solar Panel Arrays & Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Three solar panel arrays on the north side of the Schmeeckle parking lot produce electricity that offsets about 75% of the visitor center's energy use.

A Level 2 EV charging station is also available for free on a first-come, first-served basis when the parking lot is open (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.). Two cars can be charged at a time. No overnight parking is allowed.

Project Details

As part of Schmeeckle's sustainability initiatives, a 6.1 kW solar panel array was installed in November 2019 with major support from the UWSP Green Fund, a student-led initiative that supports sustainability projects on campus. Due to the success of the first array, an additional 7.2 kW array was installed in March 2023 and a 7.3 kW array was installed in December 2023, creating a 20.6 kW system. Power produced by the solar arrays feed directly into the Wisconsin Public Service electrical grid. The total system produces about 26,000 kWh of electricity annually, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 20.3 tons per year, the equivalent of a 22-acre forest.

Project Donors

The UWSP Green Fund was the primary funder of this project, providing $76,000 in support. Additional community donors include Northwind Solar (donated the EV charging station), the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve, the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society, and Kent and Sue Hall. Northwind Solar planned and installed all of the arrays.


Real-time Energy Production

To view real-time energy production by the Schmeeckle solar panel array, click the button below.


Click here to view real-time solar energy production