The City Remains Committed to Climate Action Plan

Published on September 03, 2026

Wastewater Utility Electric Vehicles

LA CROSSE, WI – The La Crosse Wastewater Utility remains committed to sustainability as it now has three electric vehicles (EVs) in its fleet. The department started purchasing EVs in 2023 and has found tremendous benefits to its operations.

“We’re saving money, which positively impacts the department’s budget and our rate payers, and we are fulfilling the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP),” said Wastewater Superintendent Jared Greeno. The City of La Crosse Common Council officially adopted its CAP in January 2023.

Greeno shared that the department’s first EV was a utility golf cart. This vehicle remains essential for collecting samples throughout the treatment plant, transporting supplies, and completing other tasks that sustain productivity and efficiency. Its usability and popularity among staff necessitated the purchase of a second cart in 2025, along with a van.

“When it was time to replace our electrician’s van, we did not want another gas guzzler,” Greeno declared. “We decided to get an electric van because of the overwhelming success of the electric utility carts.” The van is used for maintaining the treatment plant, 27 sanitary lift stations, and seven storm lift stations. It is also used when staff attend training events within and outside of La Crosse.

Greeno stated that with the lower costs of EVs today, he hopes to purchase more in the future.

The City of La Crosse utilizes four hybrid Municipal Transit Utility (MTU) buses and a fleet of almost two dozen hybrid vehicles spread across various departments.