East Alton School District 13 Saves an Estimated $16,000 a Year on Energy Costs Through Community Solar, at No Cost to the District

EAST ALTON — East Alton School District 13 is saving an estimated $16,000 per year on energy costs by participating in community solar.

The district partnered with Community Solar Authority (CSA), a national firm that helps large energy users lower their energy costs through community solar. The district captured those savings with no capital investment and without installing any solar on-site.

Community solar lets subscribers take part in a local, off-site solar project. In exchange, they keep a portion of the benefits as net savings on their energy costs. For school districts balancing tight budgets against rising electricity costs, community solar has become a strategy that more and more public schools across Illinois are adopting.

“Community Solar Authority made this simple for our district. They took the time to understand our needs, explained every step clearly, and delivered an estimated $16,000 a year in savings without asking us to spend a dollar up front. That's money we can put back into our students,” said Kelli Decker, Superintendent of East Alton School District 13.

“This is another huge win for a local school district facing rising energy costs,” said Dakota Knuckles-Malone, Co-Founder and Head of Brand of Community Solar Authority. “We're big believers in community impact. With over $1M+/yr saved in 2026 for Illinois Public Schools, being able to support East Alton #13 further displays our commitment to our local southern IL communities.”

As part of the partnership, Knuckles-Malone personally presented a $500 scholarship to Carmen Devlin, a student at East Alton Middle School, in recognition of her commitment to her local community.

About East Alton School District 13

East Alton School District 13 is a public elementary and middle school district in East Alton, Illinois (Madison County), serving around 700 to 780 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Its administrative offices are located at 210 E St Louis Ave, East Alton, IL 62024.

About Community Solar Authority

Community Solar Authority helps large energy users access lower energy costs through the community solar program. CSA has helped unlock more than $100 million in future energy savings for clients, including many other school districts across Illinois.

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