<
https://apnews.com/article/sheep-solar-texas-climate-333e72167bcf24047257e1be352ce1a9>
"BUCKHOLTS, Texas (AP) — On rural Texas farmland, beneath hundreds of rows of
solar panels, a troop of stocky sheep rummage through pasture, casually bumping
into one another as they remain committed to a single task: chewing grass.
The booming solar industry has found an unlikely mascot in sheep as large-scale
solar farms crop up across the U.S. and in the plain fields of Texas. In Milam
County, outside Austin, SB Energy operates the fifth-largest solar project in
the country, capable of generating 900 megawatts of power across 4,000 acres
(1,618 hectares).
How do they manage all that grass? With the help of about 3,000 sheep, which
are better suited than lawnmowers to fit between small crevices and chew away
rain or shine.
The proliferation of sheep on solar farms is part of a broader trend — solar
grazing — that has exploded alongside the solar industry.
Agrivoltaics, a method using land for both solar energy production and
agriculture, is on the rise with more than 60 solar grazing projects in the
U.S., according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The American Solar
Grazing Association says 27 states engage in the practice.
“The industry tends to rely on gas-powered mowers, which kind of contradicts
the purpose of renewables,” SB Energy asset manager James Hawkins said."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
