Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, the venue for the 2012 All Star Game, using solar panels to reduce energy costs

June 27, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Fans are seeing the same lush green grass at Kauffman Stadium this year, but in terms of energy, the MLB All Star Game host is looking even greener than before. The Kansas City Royals have joined a handful of MLB teams adding solar panels for the 2012 season. The Royals' panels will produce 32,000 kWh of energy each year.

The Royals partnered with KCP&L, the local electric utility, to install 120 solar panels on the roof of Kauffman Stadium's Outfield Experience canopy facing south. A kiosk located in the Outfield Experience educates fans about the benefits of solar energy and provides more information about the stadium's use of renewables.

"KCP&L is proud to partner with the Kansas City Royals on this project – the largest in-stadium solar array," said Chuck Caisley, KCP&L vice president of Marketing and Public Affairs. "KCP&L has a long-standing history of supporting renewable energy projects and is now excited to be able to do that while supporting America's national pasttime."

But baseball isn't just greener on the west side of Missouri. At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, home of the 2011 World Series Champions, St. Louis-based Microgrid Energy teamed up with the St. Louis Cardinals to install 106 solar panels on the roofs of the concession area and ticket building in the Ford Family Plaza. The solar array at the stadium's northeast corner will produce up to 32,000 kWh of energy each year—enough to cook four million hot dogs!

"We are excited about this installation because of the tremendous impact we expect it to have on raising awareness and educating people on the strong viability of solar in Missouri," says Rick Hunter, CEO of Microgrid Energy. "The Royals and Cardinals have such a strong presence in our state, so it is exciting to think about the far-reaching impact their solar projects will likely have on growing interest in solar in Missouri."

Along with the Cardinals, the Royals join five other MLB teams incorporating solar energy at their stadiums. Both teams hope their solar projects will reduce energy costs and raise awareness about the benefits of renewable energy nationwide.

www.missouripartnership.com