On September 23, the Jayco Family of Companies announced the completion of a rooftop solar installation at its Plant 55 facility in Twin Falls, Idaho.
The project, carried out in partnership with Solscient Energy LLC, is designed to generate about 930,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually.
The system features 1,760 high-efficiency solar panels and is expected to offset a significant portion of the plant’s electricity consumption, a press release stated.
Jayco Director of Facilities Scott Myers said the project represents “another significant step in our commitment to sustainable energy and environmental responsibility.”
The Twin Falls campus employs approximately 400 people and produces towable RVs for Jayco brands distributed throughout the western half of North America.
Jayco noted that the project aligns with broader sustainability initiatives underway across its U.S. operations.
This expansion builds on previous investments, including a solar project at Jayco’s Middlebury, Indiana campus that brought more than 3,000 panels online in 2022.
That system was designed to supply more than 10 percent of the campus’s annual power usage.
Jayco, a subsidiary of THOR Industries Inc., has also implemented initiatives such as LED lighting upgrades and plans for electric forklifts at its plants, according to the 2022 update.
The company has previously reported recycling nearly 5 million pounds of waste in 2021 as part of its landfill-free goal.
What it Means for RV Manufacturers
For RV manufacturers, Jayco’s latest installation underscores a growing trend toward integrating renewable energy directly into production facilities.
Scaling solar capacity allows plants to reduce reliance on external power sources, which can provide greater long-term stability in operational costs.
Such investments may also influence homologation processes as manufacturers prepare to demonstrate environmental standards compliance for both domestic and international markets.
Aligning with corporate sustainability targets could help maintain relationships with OEM partners and regulatory agencies.
Manufacturers may also need to consider how renewable energy projects affect production timelines.
While the release did not disclose whether the installation required downtime or adjustments at Plant 55, large-scale facility projects often involve coordination to minimize disruption to output.
Finally, renewable energy investments at major brands such as Jayco may prompt other RV manufacturers to evaluate their own energy strategies.
As companies expand their sustainability initiatives, competitive pressure may increase for manufacturers to highlight similar projects in dealer training and communications.
Featured image by Jayco via jayco.com