169
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

The largest solar grazing project in the U.S. will reduce mowing costs and emissions — and make for some happy sheep.

JR Howard of Texas Solar Sheep can’t buy sheep fast enough. He supplies them to solar farms, where their grazing keeps grass short for less than the cost of mowing it. Demand for his animals has skyrocketed over the past few years as more and more large solar installations are being built. Now Howard is scrambling to fulfill his biggest order yet: for 6,000 sheep, which will be put to work grazing eight Texas solar fields run by Enel North America.

Howard’s booming business is a form of agrivoltaics, which combines solar panels with agriculture or other land uses that benefit farmers and ecosystems.

Agrivoltaics projects involving sheep have been shown to improve the quality of the soil, since their manure is a natural fertilizer. At a solar installation in Minnesota, where Enel first started grazing sheep in 2017, the company saw a 200 percent improvement in organic matter. Using sheep instead of mowers also cuts down on fossil fuel use, while allowing native plants to mature and bloom. Solar projects that prioritize native plant growth have been found to increase the biodiversity of plants and insects, like native bees, and to reduce soil erosion.

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[-] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 30 points 4 months ago

These must be the sheep the androids dream of

[-] thenextguy@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

Now I lay me down to sleep
I try to count electric sheep
Sweet dreams wished you can keep
How I hate the night

[-] Bilbo_Haggins@lemm.ee 2 points 4 months ago

Can't quote the lyrics without sharing the awesome lyric video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbQSzs11euk

Used to sing this song to my kid at bedtime but he hasn't asked for it lately. Maybe I'll try to work it back into the rotation.

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

I like the HHGTG theme.

[-] DigitalNirvana@lemm.ee 6 points 4 months ago

No, those are the electric ones, these are just electric adjacent. And it’s a damn fine idea. If only I had 10k acres.

[-] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 24 points 4 months ago

Now that’s ranchpunk.

[-] beepnoise@piefed.social 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!!

(sorry, couldn't resist)

[-] Branquinho@lemmy.eco.br 13 points 4 months ago

*SOLAR SHEEPLE

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

This may be the first time I didn't downvote that word.

[-] gmtom@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago

Then maybe you'll eventually be able to actually buy lamb in the US.

[-] tal@lemmy.today -5 points 4 months ago

I hope that this guy's sheep don't like munching on cables.

this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2024
169 points (99.4% liked)

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