South Dakota School of Mines & Techonogy
Project Snapshot
Client: South Dakota Mines (Rapid City, SD)
Site: Vanderboom Laboratory for Entrepreneurial Research (campus rooftop)
System size: 87.2 kW DC
Equipment: 160 solar modules + advanced inverters
Status: Energized
Announcement date: February 5, 2026
GenPro roles:
GenPro Energy Development (GED): Feasibility study (technical + financial)
GenPro Energy Solutions (GES): Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC)
The Challenge
South Dakota Mines had explored on-campus solar for years, but needed a project that: – Fit the physical constraints of an existing campus building – Delivered a return on investment that supported the use of state energy funds as matching dollars – Added educational value—not just energy production—by enabling real-time performance data for student coursework and projects
The solution
GenPro supported Mines from concept to commissioning through a two-team delivery model: – GED initiated the project with a comprehensive feasibility study to confirm system sizing, expected performance, and financial viability. – GES executed the EPC
scope, delivering a rooftop solar array designed for reliability, performance, and long- term campus value. The result is an 87.2 kW DC rooftop system (160 modules with modern inverters) that supports both operational savings and hands-on STEM learning.
Results & Impact
This installation is expected to: – Reduce campus energy costs – Lower carbon emissions – Provide real-time solar production data for student learning and applied research As Mines’ Vice President of Operations Jerilyn Roberts noted, the Vanderboom
Laboratory was an ideal fit due to available roof space and the ROI required to leverage state energy funds as matching funds.
What made this project work
Client Perspective
About The Partners
About South Dakota Mines
Founded in 1885, South Dakota Mines is a leading science and engineering research university located in Rapid City, South Dakota.
About GenPro Energy Development
GenPro Energy Development specializes in clean energy project development, consulting, and feasibility analysis, empowering communities with distributed generation solutions.
About GenPro Energy Solutions
GenPro Energy Solutions is a leading provider of solar engineering, procurement, and construction services, delivering high-performance renewable energy systems across
the Midwest and beyond.
Want to evaluate solar, storage, or resilience upgrades for your campus or public facility?
Let’s start with a feasibility study grounded in real-world performance and finance.