Hundreds of sheep will graze among solar panels in Madison County, nibbling away at vegetation and keeping weeds at bay.
The Ohio Power Siting Board on June 24 approved a plan by Madison Fields Solar Project to use mowing and sheep grazing to manage vegetation.
Up to 260 sheep will be grazing on a 65-acre section of the project between mid-March and mid-December.
The 180-megawatt project, owned by Savion, is expected to generate power for Amazon. It integrates forage crops, such as hay and alfalfa, within the rows of panels.
Solar grazing is the practice of using grazing livestock on solar farms. Sheep are naturally suited to the job: They enjoy the shade of the solar panels on hot days, napping and grazing where humans would struggle to reach, according to the American Solar Grazing Association.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio said eight solar projects are approved for livestock grazing. Six have yet to deploy the sheep, while two have sheep onsite.
Columbus has contracted to have goats eat weeds around Antrim Lake park and in ditches that are maintained by Columbus Power & Water.
State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Baaaa! Hundreds of sheep to graze at Madison County solar farm
Reporting by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
