High-Production Pile Pre-Drilling Services Across Kentucky

Aggregate Resource Drilling, LLC, an Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) and affiliate of Aggregate Resource Industries, Inc. (ARI), provides high-production solar pile pre-drilling services for utility-scale solar projects across Kentucky. We specialize in sites where foundation piles encounter refusal due to dense residual clays, shallow bedrock, karst topography, and limestone seams—challenges that are common across Eastern and Central Kentucky.

Our drilling fleet supports pile diameters up to 16 inches and is engineered to meet the structural demands of both monofacial and bifacial solar foundation systems.

Whether you're developing a multi-county project in the LG&E/KU service area or deploying solar in Kentucky's Appalachian coal-transition regions, ARI delivers drilling precision, labor compliance, and field-tested performance.

Why EPCs and Developers Choose ARI for Kentucky Projects

Technical & Operational Advantages

• Proven in Kentucky: Active project delivery in Martin County and Appalachian service zones

• SmartROC & DTH Drilling: Automated SmartROC rigs with real-time penetration feedback and refusal mapping

• GPS-Based QA/QC: Digital bore logs, GIS layout alignment, and as-built documentation

• Crews Trained for Regional Geology: Clay-over-limestone transition zones, groundwater variability, and shallow bedrock

Strategic Developer Benefits

• IEE Status: Supports bonus IRA tax credits for tribal participation and federal project eligibility

• IRA Labor Compliance: DOL-Registered Drilling Apprenticeship Program meets prevailing wage + apprenticeship mandates

• Rapid Mobilization: ARI deploys East and Central U.S. teams with staging and local vendor coordination

Project Portfolio Highlights – Kentucky Solar Sites

With over 5.6 gigawatts of national pile pre-drilling experience, ARI is actively contributing to Kentucky’s growing renewable energy footprint. Notable regional work includes:

200 MW Savion Martin Solar – Martin County, KY
Executed pile pre-drilling in high-clay zones underlain by shallow limestone. ARI mitigated refusal zones and maintained production rates during variable weather and terrain.

Additional work has been scoped in coal-to-solar transition areas across Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky, supporting community-based and federally subsidized energy initiatives.

Where We Operate in Kentucky

ARI provides solar pile pre-drilling services across the state, with experience or active project delivery in:

• Eastern Kentucky – Martin, Pike, Floyd, and Letcher counties

• Central Kentucky – Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Clark

• Western Kentucky – Muhlenberg, Daviess, Warren counties

• LG&E and KU Service Territories – Including PPA and third-party-owned solar sites

• Appalachia Transition Zones – Supporting DOE and IRA-funded regional energy initiatives

We deploy rapidly with field-tested teams, local logistics support, and vendor alignment for water supply and materials handling.

SmartROC Drilling with Integrated QA

Our SmartROC D65 rigs and skilled operators bring high-resolution bore control to Kentucky’s mixed subsurface conditions. ARI’s digital QA system enables:

• Depth targeting and refusal detection

• Penetration rate and torque monitoring

• GPS-referenced bore logs for QA review and EPC handoff

• GIS and drone-integrated layout systems for fast verification and turnover

“In Kentucky’s clay-over-limestone terrain, our pre-drilling eliminates guesswork and refusal delays—especially in mechanically dense racking zones.”
— ARI Senior Superintendent, East Region

DOL-Registered Drilling Apprenticeship for IRA Compliance

ARI is proud to operate a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Registered Apprenticeship Program specifically for drilling operations. This enables full compliance with the IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements under 26 USC § 45 and § 48.

IRA Labor Compliance Advantages

• Satisfies apprenticeship and wage thresholds for enhanced ITC/PTC eligibility

• Meets documentation requirements for IRS Forms 8835 and 3468

• Reduces developer exposure to tax credit clawbacks or audits

• Aligns with ESG and labor sustainability mandates

“When you contract ARI, you don’t need to ask if your pile drilling is IRA-compliant — it’s built into how we operate.”

Apprenticeship Program Overview

• Focus: Drilling operations and safety

• Registered With: U.S. Department of Labor

• Includes:

  • Jobsite safety and lockout/tagout procedures

  • Formation recognition and drilling method adjustments

  • Borehole alignment, GPS logging, and QA documentation

  • MSHA and OSHA compliance training

• Duration: ~2 years with structured progression and certification milestones

Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) Tax Credit Access

ARI is a federally recognized Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE), delivering unique benefits to developers under the Inflation Reduction Act:

• Eligibility for bonus tax credits tied to tribal economic participation

• Preferred status on federally influenced procurement or PPA-backed solar projects

• ESG value for mission-driven investment firms and clean energy coalitions

• Tangible support for tribal economic self-determination

Ready to Drill in Kentucky?

If your Kentucky solar site includes refusal risks, mixed subsurface profiles, or IRA compliance requirements, ARI brings a proven solution for predictable, production-ready pile pre-drilling.

Contact our solar operations team for pricing, technical specs, or to schedule a walk-through:

Contact ARI