Wehmeyer Seed- Mascoutah, IL
How This Business Saves $30K/Year with Solar
600,000 kWh Down to 300K
And $30K/Year in Solar ROI
Why Going Solar is Smarter Energy for Smarter Manufacturing
Over 95% reduction in utility costs since 2022 with the installation of a 94kW rooftop solar array.
-Pike County Lumber, Pittsfield, IL
For many local manufacturing companies, rising utility costs and business expenses make it more difficult to stay up with energy demand each year and cover costs. Many companies are looking for alternate ways to save and solar power has become an attractive solution. With solar energy, manufacturers can easily lower overhead, boost energy independence, and reduce their environmental impact.
As a manufacturing company in southern Illinois or eastern Missouri, you are uniquely positioned to benefit from the switch to solar energy. Most manufacturing businesses in our area have large facilities, expansive rooftops, and open parking areas.
This means you have the space and energy demands to make solar a smart, scalable investment. Also, with generous federal and state incentives currently available, including tax credits and accelerated depreciation, investing in solar has never been more cost-effective. If you are ready to take control of your energy use and demonstrate leadership in sustainability, then solar energy is the path to take.
The Benefits of Switching to Solar for Manufacturing Companies
Investing in commercial solar energy not only reduces your business expenses but demonstrates a strong commitment to operate more sustainably. A solar system serves as a constant, visible reminder of your dedication to the planet’s future and your local community.
Long-Term Financial Savings
Your plant consumes large amounts of electricity for machinery, HVAC, lighting and more. Solar energy reduces or eliminates your monthly electricity bills, allowing more capital for business growth. You’ll have more money to focus on the products you produce and the people that produce them. For Huelsmann Distributing in Trenton, IL, the 37-kW rooftop solar array they installed in 2016 continues to meet nearly all their facility’s power needs.
Environmental Impact
Enhance your corporate reputation by committing to sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint. Solar energy plays a crucial role in lowering national carbon emissions and combating global climate change. Its generation produces no greenhouse gases and has no negative environmental impact, unlike fossil fuels, which account for over a third of U.S. carbon emissions.
Energy Independence
Protect your company against energy price fluctuations and supply disruptions for a stable operating environment.
Utilizes Unused Space
Take advantage of the unused space right above your head. Many manufacturing facilities are in rural areas and are housed in large buildings with flat roofs. This provides the ideal space to install a solar system for maximum results.
National Incentives
Federal
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Provides a credit of 30% of the cost for commercial solar energy systems.
Low-Income and Energy Communities
Projects in eligible areas
May receive an additional 10%-20% tax credit.
Domestic Content
Projects using specified percentages of American-made materials
May receive an additional 10% tax credit.
Direct Pay
Tax-exempt entities
Governments
Rural electric co-ops
Can receive the ITC as a direct payment instead of as a tax credit.
Transfers
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
May be sold to other taxpayers.
REAP Grants
Small businesses
Can apply for USDA REAP Grants that cover up to 50% of solar project costs.
State Incentives for Illinois Commercial Businesses
Illinois Shines Program
- Provides incentives based on system production.
- In our experience, these incentives return roughly 30% of system cost back to the customer.
Smart Inverter Rebate Program
Ameren Illinois customers
Receive up to $300 per kilowatt for installed solar or energy storage systems.
Easy Ways to Save with Tax Incentives
National and local incentives make it easier than ever to recoup most of your installation price. When you pair current solar incentives with your substantial energy bill savings, your solar energy system can pay for itself in under five years and continue providing reduced overhead for two or three more decades. For Wehmeyer Seed in Mascoutah, IL, that means they’re saving big. Terry Twenhafel, their VP of Finance says, “Our electrical savings are about $15,000 a year… we’re being compensated another $15,000 for the power we push back onto the grid.”
Powering Local Manufacturers with Solar Expertise
“EFS helped us go through all the steps so that we could get onto the electric grid.”
-Terry Twenhafel, VP of Finance, Wehmeyer Seed, Mascoutah, IL
Project Gallery
Trost Plastics
Columbia, IL - 79kW system 3% net cost with available incentives
Trekker Logistics
Caseyville, IL- 169kW rooftop solar array Offsets their logistics center usage by almost 95%
Riechmann Brothers
South-Central IL- 450+ kW systems Ability to predict long term operating costs across 4 locations
3407 S. Jefferson Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63118