Rock River Lumber & Grain Profile

Rock River Lumber & Grain – Sterling, IL

Agriculture is the backbone of the Illinois economy, but grain handling is notoriously energy-inefficient due to the massive seasonal spikes in power required for drying and moving grain. Rock River Lumber & Grain addressed this challenge at their Sterling facility with a 500kW storage system. Instead of being at the mercy of the utility’s peak pricing during the critical harvest season, the company uses stored energy to buffer their heaviest loads. This project is a prime example of how battery storage can provide a competitive edge to traditional agricultural businesses by turning energy from a fixed cost into a manageable variable.