Power the Future: Laying the Groundwork for Community Solar Projects

As the Midwest continues to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, community solar projects are gaining ground as a practical alternative for powering local neighborhoods and communities.

Every Midwestern state is projecting an increase in solar energy production over the next five years, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Illinois has emerged as one of the fastest-growing states for community solar projects, while current legislation in Missouri supports solar expansion across the Show-Me State.

Because Castle Contracting delivers civil sitework on solar projects at a variety of scales, our team members understand the factors that drive the most successful outcomes.

Here are a few lessons we’ve learned through our experience working as a partner to electrical contractors and other EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors.

Set the stage for success

Whether it’s located on a 4,000-acre site or a 40-acre site, every solar job follows a similar planning, design and construction process.

Through Castle’s involvement at the earliest stages of solar projects, we have developed a keen eye for recognizing the factors that set projects up for success.

During the planning and design phases of a project, our team can assess the project scope, identify potential cost-saving opportunities, and pinpoint any missing elements or unforeseen issues that may complicate the job. Those insights enable us to provide accurate early cost estimates to our clients.

Focus on efficiency

Because community-scale solar projects follow an expedited construction schedule, efficiency is key.

The onsite Castle team is attuned to understanding all of the factors that keep jobs on track and progressing toward meeting overall project goals.

Drawing on our extensive self-perform experience, which includes completing more than 35 solar projects over the last decade, we’ve developed effective processes and workflows that enable us to stay on schedule. We’re also committed to being a good teammate to our electrical partners and others as we work together to plan production and implement lean and safe practices in the field.

Navigate the complications proactively

Our experience in managing sitework on expansive utility-scale solar projects informs our approach to working on community-scale projects, since they face many of the same challenges.

Because solar fields are typically located on farmland or undeveloped rural sites, they can present logistical complexities for project teams when it comes to installing access roads and laydown areas as well as accessing remote areas of the site.

We are also attuned to avoiding existing underground infrastructure, including utility distribution pipelines, sewer lines, septic systems and stormwater drainage systems.

Since solar jobs are always exposed to the elements, weather is a constant variable that threatens to delay a project or cause damage that will require major repair work.  

Castle guides project teams to plan through potential challenges and helps prepare contingencies to manage issues when they arise.

Install with precision

Maintaining tight grading tolerances is vital to ensure that solar panels will be precisely angled to harness the sun’s energy and generate maximum power.

We also have to accurately meet grading tolerances to ensure the site drains effectively and doesn’t end up unintentionally flooding or creating new wetlands over time.

Castle collaborates closely with civil designers to provide constructability analysis and potential cost-saving measures. Leveraging the latest in GPS grading technology, we ensure quality installations on all civil components of a project.

Engage with neighbors

It’s important to build positive relationships with landowners and neighbors in these tight-knit rural communities.

Because these individuals may be skeptical about the project and concerned about construction activities, our team needs to share ongoing project updates and communicate details about strategies in place for minimizing site disruption.  

Landowners and neighboring homeowners can also be a valuable resource for details about a site that can help construction teams avoid potential hazards or unforeseen complications.

Tap into our expertise.

With dedicated solar team members and extensive experience managing dozens of solar projects across the Midwest, Castle’s team is a highly skilled sitework partner for community solar projects.

Our expertise enables us to hit the ground running as we work closely with electrical contractors, EPC contractors and other project stakeholders to guide the civil phase and effectively address ongoing issues to keep projects moving forward.