BREWER, Maine (WABI) – In order to prevent vegetation from overgrowing in solar farms, clean energy company Nexamp is allowing local shepherds the chance to maintain them with the help of some fluffy friends.
“One of the challenges with a solar farm obviously, is you got to make sure that the panels are always capturing all of the available sun. That means you got to make sure that the vegetation is not growing so tall as to obstruct the panels,” said Communication Manager Keith Hevenor.
Since 2018, Nexamp’s Solar Grazing Program has allowed shepherds the opportunity to graze sheep at their solar farms.
“We have a couple hundred sheep that we are grazing in different groups across the state. We kind of laugh about it, but they have a very easy job. They get to hang out and eat grass all day,” said Shepard Matt Kovarik of Black Earth Grazing.
Kovarik’s sheep, who graze the grass of Felts Brooks solar farm in Brewer, says there are added benefits to grazing on solar farms compared to more typical farmland.
“The biggest difference I would say here is that they have so much access to shade. If we are on a big open field, we would have to position them on super-hot days, so they have access to a tree line or shade in general, whereas here, I feel like here they are much more comfortable,” said Kovarik.
Those with the solar farm say that maintaining vegetation with sheep, compared to utilities such as lawnmowers or weed whackers, is not only safer, but very similar in cost.
“You run the risk of kicking up rocks or debris, damaging the panels. You are burning fossil fuels, and this by nature is a clean energy site, so we like to minimize that as much as possible. For us, cost wise, it’s about the same cost as hiring a landscaping crew. This way, we are ensuring there is a dual-purpose for the land,” said Hevenor.
“Having that opportunity, it makes it into a job, and we are not just grazing our sheep here. We are getting paid to do it. I think that having that opportunity is really awesome for us,” said Kovarik.
Nexamp says a majority of their solar farms in Maine utilize the Solar Grazing Program. Shepherds interested in joining can reach out through Nexamp or the American Solar Grazing Association.
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