In rural Texas, the burgeoning solar energy sector has embraced an unconventional yet effective method for vegetation management: sheep grazing. At SB Energy’s expansive 4,000-acre solar farm in Milam County, approximately 3,000 sheep are employed to maintain the grass beneath the solar panels. This practice, known as solar grazing, offers a sustainable alternative to traditional gas-powered mowing, aligning with the renewable energy industry’s environmental objectives. The approach is gaining traction nationwide, with over 60 solar grazing projects reported across 27 states.

The integration of sheep into solar farms not only enhances land use efficiency but also revitalizes the struggling sheep and wool industry. Sheepherder JR Howard’s company, Texas Solar Sheep, exemplifies this synergy. Since initiating contracts with solar farms in 2021, Howard’s operation has expanded to over 8,000 sheep and 26 employees, with plans for further growth. This model demonstrates how renewable energy initiatives can create ancillary economic opportunities for local agriculture.

Despite the promising aspects of solar grazing, experts like Nuria Gomez-Casanovas from Texas A&M University caution that comprehensive research is needed to fully understand its long-term environmental impacts. Questions remain regarding soil health and the overall productivity of agrivoltaic systems compared to traditional agriculture or standalone solar farms. Nonetheless, the practice represents a compelling intersection of renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, offering a multifaceted approach to land management.

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Solar farms are booming in the US and putting thousands of hungry sheep to work