A herd of hundreds of sheep has been helping keep the lights on in the city of Gainesville.
Adapture Renewables, a California-based solar energy equipment supplier with solar projects around the United States, has partnered with Texas Solar Sheep in its efforts to maintain solar energy production for the North Texas town. The sheep are working to manage one of the many obstacles to solar energy production: vegetation overgrowth.
The BT Cooke Solar project based in Gainesville began in 2020 and currently produces about 151,081 megawatts per hour. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the many limits of “renewable energy” were showcased last summer, underperforming amid high energy demand.
Elora Arana, project development manager for the company, told WFAA that one of the biggest hindrances to solar energy production is caused by plant growth near solar panels.
“So if the grass grows higher than the solar panels, then it creates what’s called shading, and that affects the amount of energy we’re able to produce,” said Arana, per WFAA.
Consequently, the company partnered with Texas Solar Sheep, a family-owned and operated sheep operation solar grazing operation, contracting 450 sheep to manage the vegetation around the 330-acre project. These sheep not only manage the vegetation to keep them from interfering with production but have increased the quality of the land, raising the soil organic content by 300%
“I knew the sheep would be a perfect fit for this,” said JR Howard, owner of Texas Solar Sheep, according to WFAA.
“I think the sheep love it out here,” said Arana, per WFAA. “Free food at all times, whenever you want. I think it’s real nice for them.”
Gainesville is not the only city employing animals to manage vegetation. Dallas Water Utilities Department started a new vegetation management pilot program last summer using goats, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.