June 25, 2026

By Lisa Abelar

Lumber has been a part of Aubrey Irion’s life since he was in elementary school. Growing up in the rural Pennsylvania town of Wellsboro, he was surrounded by a landscape that very likely had more trees than people. At home, his parents ran an 18th century furniture reproduction business.

That business eventually transitioned to a lumber company, and as vice president and part owner, Irion recently divided his attention between the oaks and walnuts he needs to dry and certain practices that may create efficiencies for the family business.

A solar installation, suggested by a high school friend during an energy audit, was one. 

“I started looking at the returns and credits and how it worked financially, and I really liked the fact that it was energy efficient and allowed you to cut back on fossil fuels,” Irion said. 

He connected with Smuckers Energy, a Lancaster County-based renewable energy provider, and worked with them to pursue a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to help cover a portion of the costs of a solar installation. The REAP program most recently received more than $2 billion in funding as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed by the 117th Congress and signed by President Joe Biden.

Irion received a grant for about $30,000, which covered about 25% of the cost of the 63 kilowatt system he had installed on the company’s property. The installation of that solar array allows Irion Lumber Company to receive a 30% tax credit and creates an opportunity to depreciate the expense, which is beneficial come tax season.

“If it didn’t pay off financially, I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” Irion said. “It just wouldn’t have been possible without the incentives.”

Rather than install the array on the roof, Irion poured concrete ballasts and set them.

“When the solar company showed up, they just had to put the panels up. Our system ended up being cheaper since I did all that stuff in-house,” he said. 

Irion estimates that the solar installation saves his family’s business between $1,000 and $1,200 a month in electricity costs. Since he’s focused on its efficiency and stability, Irion directs those savings right back into the business. 

A few years ago, they built their own saw mill on site that created even more efficiencies, and prior to the installation of the solar array, Irion acquired a tractor trailer that makes trips to the mill quicker, easier and more fruitful. 

“I can haul from further away and haul more material. What would have taken six trips now takes one,” Irion said, recalling how his dad used to make two to three trips a week to the mill. “We used to have to go through lumber at a mill and find what we wanted. Now, we have mills that are pulling for us. They know exactly what I’m looking for. Everything we’re pushing for is becoming more efficient.”