Outdoor Furniture Maker Kay Park Recreation Commits 100% to On-Site Solar Power

    May 14, 2025
    The company says that its campus solar array already has generated 385 MWh of carbon-free electricity. This output basically accounts for all of Kay Park’s power generation consumption.
    Image credit Kay Park Recreation
    6824b6fc88ac6c71119dec9a Kay Park And Vendors

    Outdoor furnishings manufacturer Kay Park Recreation is now tapping on-site solar power to energize most of the equipment around its facilities in Janesville, Iowa.

    The company says that its campus solar array already has generated 385 MWh of carbon-free electricity. This output basically accounts for all of Kay Park’s power generation consumption.

    "We're not just investing in new systems and technologies; we're investing in the future of our people, our partners, and the communities we serve," said Chris Borglum, Kay Park Recreation president & co-owner, in a statement. "From powering our operations with renewable energy to building deeper connections through digital tools and trade shows, we're committed to leading the way in sustainable manufacturing and customer experience."

     The solar power generated so far is enough to electrify more than 1,000 park lamps for a full year, charge 11,000 electric vehicles or host 200 fully powered community events. In addition, the renewable energy transition was integrated with an upgrade to Kay Park’s manufacturing facility and processes. These include a new Syteline enterprise resource planning system, advanced laser-cutting technology, robotic welder and material router.

    The industrial-site solar installation was completed in September 2024. Kay Park partnered with nearby Des Moines-based supplier Current Renewable Efficiencies which installed 638 solar modules.

    Kay Park Recreation has been manufacturing outdoor furniture and equipment for 71 years.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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