Energy development firm Avangrid has welcomed thousands of sheep back to graze the fields at four solar projects across Washington and Oregon.
The company has released about 5,000 sheep into Daybreak Solar, Bakeoven Solar and Pachwáywit Fields Solar in Oregon, and Lund Hill Solar in Washington, officials say. Not only does the practice of “solar grazing” keep the animals fed, but it allows for the sites to passively manage vegetation levels, and lower the risk of fires in the summer.
“This is a partnership and a management strategy indicative of Avangrid’s long-term commitment to these communities,” says Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “Not only are we effectively managing our facilities in ways that incorporate the region’s historical ties to ranching, but cultivating strong local partnerships to collaboratively maintain our solar projects.”
The company has partnered with Cameron Krebs, owner of Krebs Solar Grazing, for the Pacific Northwestern projects since 2024. A fifth-generation rancher from Oregon, Krebs comes from a family with a history of lamb and wool production throughout the region.
“When new industries move into our communities, it’s nice to see a partner like Avangrid engaging those of us who are born and raised here and looking at sustainable ways to take care of this landscape together,” Krebs says. “Our primary objective is to reduce the vegetation in the facility, maintain its high functionality, and create resilience through summer.”
Grazing the country
Avangrid began its solar grazing efforts in 2023, according to Lora Chante, the company’s VP of operations and maintenance. What started as a pilot project then, she said, has become a “full-fledged vegetation management operation,” just three years later.
As part of the partnership deal between Avangrid and Krebs, the two work together to build a grazing plan over each winter. The plan goes into action for each spring growing season, where sheep can effectively maneuver throughout each solar site, even moving underneath solar panels to consume grass and weeds around the project.
Thanks to the success of the solar grazing pilot program in Oregon and Washington, the Avangrid is now considering allowing solar grazing at other sites around the region. Additionally, the company has considered bringing the practice to other spots around the country, according to representatives.
“We build our projects with the intent to operate them for 30 years or more, meaning it is important that we remain a great neighbor and exceptional community partner,” Chante says. “Utilizing sheep grazing at our solar projects is helping us accomplish these goals by keeping our facilities clean and safe.”
Tags: agrivoltaics, AVANGRID Inc., O&M, project, solar grazing
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