La Crescent expands sustainability efforts with solar, stormwater projects on Earth Day

LA CRESCENT, Minn. (WXOW)  — As communities celebrate Earth Day, La Crescent is continuing a multi-year push to expand sustainability efforts across the city, ranging from solar energy to stormwater infrastructure and natural resource protection.

The City of La Crescent Sustainability Coordinator, Jason Ludwigson, says those efforts are designed to improve both environmental outcomes and quality of life for residents.

“We’re thinking about energy, thinking about natural spaces, thinking about transportation, thinking about water,” Ludwigson said. “Those are probably the big components of sustainability in the city.” 

One of the most visible investments is in solar energy.

The city has installed solar panels at multiple locations, with additional sites expected to come online.

“We’ll have six at the end of this year. We currently have four that are installed at different sites within the city,” Ludwigson said. “Being able to produce electricity here locally within the city is a really big benefit and reduce pollution directly in the community.”

According to city data, the solar PV system at the La Crescent Aquatic Center alone is expected to generate about 34,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, resulting in an estimated annual savings of $2,833.

The city is also seeing savings on the road.

According to Ludwigson, the two electric vehicles in the city’s fleet are cutting fuel costs by an estimated $800 each per year. 

Other projects focus on infrastructure that is less visible but still plays a critical role in protecting local resources.

“Stormwater infrastructure, things like that to keep stormwater here and infiltrate it rather than having that runoff or flooding and water pollution,” Ludwigson said. “That isn’t always the big, grand, exciting thing, but super important.”

One example is the 6th Street project, where stormwater that previously flowed directly into Pine Creek is now collected in a basin at the end of the street and infiltrated there, keeping that runoff out of the creek.

Ludwigson said many of the city’s sustainability projects are funded through grants from state, federal and nonprofit sources, helping reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers.

Looking ahead, the city is developing an active transportation action plan and a broader sustainability and resilience plan, focused on improving bike and pedestrian access, expanding energy efficiency and guiding future projects.

As part of that broader effort, the city is also encouraging residents to take action themselves.

La Crescent is offering 89 boulevard trees at no cost to residents this year.

Trees will be planted in the public right-of-way, with the city providing the tree and watering bag; while residents are asked to help maintain them during the first two growing seasons.

Applications are open until all trees are reserved, with planting scheduled between May 1 and June 15.

“Probably one of the top actions you can do is to plant a tree,” Ludwigson said. “From benefits of shade and wildlife, storm water and fall color. Trees just have so many great benefits that that’s a really easy thing people can do on Earth Day.” 

Beyond city-led projects, there are also ways for residents to get involved.

Programs like Minnesota’s Tree Steward Program offer training on planting, pruning and maintaining trees, giving volunteers the tools to support local tree care efforts in their own communities.

There are also smaller steps, like participating in Adopt-a-Drain, where residents can help keep storm drains clear of leaves and debris to reduce pollution in nearby waterways.

Ludwigson says those combined efforts are ultimately about making the community a better place to live.

“Well, I think it just improves the quality of life for everyone that lives here. Making pedestrian accessible, biking and walking more accessible,” Ludwigson said. “Reducing energy, making things more efficient, reduce costs for people. Just makes a better community where people want to be and they want to be outside in those space.” 

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