ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF AGGREGATE PRODUCERS
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  • Home
  • Membership
    • Producer Membership
    • Associate Membership
    • Clean Fill (CCDD) Membership
    • Student Membership
    • Committee Membership
  • Learn More
    • About the IAAP >
      • Board of Directors, Staff and Committee Organization
      • History
    • What Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Do For You
    • For educators >
      • Rocks, Minerals & Mining workshop for Illinois teachers
      • Resources for teachers
      • Teaching Enhancement Grant
    • For students >
      • Education Foundation Scholarship
    • Working in the industry
    • Advocacy and industry topics >
      • Permission to Mine
      • Safety and Health
      • Environmental
      • Sustainability
      • Economic Benefits
      • Trucks & Traffic
      • Noise
      • Clean Construction & Demolition Debris Disposal
    • Community resources >
      • For Members
      • For general public
  • Find products
    • Stone, sand, gravel or industrial minerals
    • Goods and Services for Industry
    • Agricultural Lime
    • Safety Slogan T-shirts order
  • News and events
    • What's happening
    • Register for upcoming events
    • Update Newsletter
    • Convention & Safety Conference
    • Golf Outing
    • Rocks Minerals Mining workshop for Illinois teachers
  • Member Resources
    • Emerging Leaders Program
    • Committees >
      • Safety Committee
      • Environmental Committee
      • PIE Committee
      • Sustainability Committee
      • Specifications / Technical Committee
      • Legislative Committee
      • Board of Directors
    • Awards and Certificates >
      • Rock Solid Safety
      • Innovative Safety
      • Community Relations
      • Environmental Excellence
      • Sustainability Award
      • Industry Leadership
      • Mining New Members
      • Safety Slogan Contest
    • Sales Tax Exemption for Mining Equipment
    • Permitting and Certification Program Guidance
    • Resource Bank
    • Webinars and videos
    • Insurance Safety Group
    • Student Members Seeking Career or Internship Opportunities
  • Contact Us & password help

Benefits of Sustainably Solar Energy

​Energy is a major expense for mining. Converting the sun’s bountiful energy is a great opportunity. That’s why the IAAP’s Sustainability Committee wants to help educate member companies about the benefits of solar energy. 

​Here are the key factors mining companies and other industries should think about when considering to install solar.
​Grants & Incentives
Companies can benefit from several state and federal solar incentives to significantly bring down the cost of installing solar.
  • Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) of 26% in 2020
  • Illinois Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SCRECs) can cover 20%-40% of install costs
  • The Smart Inverter Rebate is an attractive incentive and definitely applies to mining
  • The Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) system of accounting allows the depreciation of a solar investment over 5-years.
  • Alternatively, Section 179 or other creative depreciation methods might exist, which you should discuss with your tax adviser.
​Intense Energy Needs
Mining takes a lot of hard work, and it also takes a lot of energy to accomplish. What kind of energy needs do mines have?
  • Breaking big rocks into smaller rocks requires a lot of energy. Washing and sizing aggregates does too.
  • Shop areas and offices need proper ventilation, cooling, heating, and lighting. These needs are energy-intensive and cannot be allowed to fail.
  • Miners also rely on a multitude of electrical equipment. This equipment requires a lot of energy and needs to be ready at a moment’s notice.
​​To learn more, check out these excellent resources:
  • Benefits of Solar
  • General Commercial Mounting Options
  • Commercial Solar Incentives
  • Solar on Corporate Campuses: Best Practices

IAAP member companies can get you started

​TICK TOCK ENERGY, INC.
PO Box 14
Effingham, IL  6241
   (217)994-9020 | FAX:  (217)994-9036
   Website:  www.ticktockenergy.com
      Craig Pals, Vice President – craig@ticktockenergy.com
      Eric Pals, President – eric@ticktockenergy.com
Products/Services:  Tick Tock Energy is a comprehensive provider of solar PV solutions for commercial & industrial businesses, farm and residential.  Based in Effingham, IL we were founded in 2006 and one of the earliest established solar providers in Illinois and United States.  We’ve been named Top 500 Solar Contractors in the US for the past five consecutive years.  In addition to solar, we offer energy-efficient LED lighting upgrades, power monitoring systems and energy consulting services.  We help REDUCE your energy use with energy-efficiency.  PRODUCE on-site power with solar photovoltaics, and MANAGE your energy costs with energy monitoring and consulting services.  Or more simply:  REDUCE-PRODUCE-MANAGE™.  We’re a local, family-owned business based in Illinois and dedicated to your long-term support and profitability.  Please visit www.ticktockenergy.com for more info.
​Less Profitable Land
Sometimes mine sites do not have the appropriate or adequate rooftop to install solar and are left to consider ground-mounted solar. But this raises a question: Is it worth taking up valuable land to install solar? Frequently, the answer is yes.
You may be concerned about giving up land for solar, but the dollars per acre value of solar can be much greater than the value generated by farming on unmined land or newly reclaimed land that is not yet ready for its final purpose. The price of electricity consistently increases. Over the years, the cost of energy adds up quickly and your energy savings can too.  Additionally, the land required for solar panels may be less than you might expect.
 
These are just a handful of the benefits your company can expect from installing solar.

Examples from mining company members

Learn About Thelen Sand & Gravel’s Solar PV System (view pictures from this field trip HERE)

Solar Energy Installations on Mining Company Property [Select speaker's name to view their presentation from 2020 IAAP convention]
Speakers:    Kip Smith & Alex Yager, Borrego Solar Systems
                     Dan Shepard, Thelen Sand & Gravel
                     Craig Pals, Tick Tock Energy
Kip Smith and Alex Yager explained State and Federal government legislation and financial incentives for Behind-the-Meter solar installations that might be able to help save your company money on electricity bills.  Technological and efficiency advances, as well as environmentally friendly materials, have made solar an attractive and sustainable option.  Dan Shepard and Craig Pals showed and explained the start to finish construction and benefits mining companies have experienced to help you understand the real-world return on investment.​  
​If your company wishes to provide guides or other materials to add to this page, contact us.
Some pages on this website require a password to access. If you need help with the password, contact the IAAP using the link below.
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Members of the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers are building Illinois' future. 
You may use this website to discover how we are doing this and to join us in the effort.
1115 S. 2nd. Street
Springfield, IL 62704
217.241.1639 (phone)
217.241.1641 (fax)
What Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Do For You