Maine sheep farmer Jonathan Tibbetts has partnered with renewable energy developer Nexamp to graze his flock on a commercial solar installation in Hollis, Maine. The arrangement combines agricultural production with clean energy generation, allowing sheep to manage vegetation growth beneath and around solar panels while utilizing the fenced land for pasture.
How Solar Grazing Works in Hollis
Solar grazing involves deploying livestock—most commonly sheep—to maintain vegetation on solar energy sites as an alternative to mechanical mowing. According to Nexamp, grazing animals control grass and weed growth naturally, which prevents shading on the photovoltaic panels and reduces maintenance costs for clean energy operators. Jonathan Tibbetts moves his sheep across the Hollis solar farm as part of an operational contract that benefits both the agricultural and energy sectors. Livestock management on industrial solar sites requires careful coordination between the farmer and the solar developer to protect electrical infrastructure while ensuring animal welfare and adequate forage.
The Growth of Agrivoltaics in New England
Agrivoltaics—the simultaneous use of areas of land for both solar power generation and agriculture—has expanded across New England as regional states set ambitious renewable energy targets. State energy offices and agricultural extensions track these dual-use projects to measure soil health impacts, operational efficiencies, and economic outcomes for local farmers. Nexamp manages multiple community solar and utility-scale projects throughout the region, increasingly integrating local livestock operators into facility maintenance programs. This approach provides participating farmers with reliable lease income and access to fenced acreage without requiring them to purchase additional land.
Economic and Operational Benefits
For independent livestock producers like Jonathan Tibbetts, contracting with renewable energy firms opens new revenue streams beyond traditional meat or wool markets. Solar developers benefit by eliminating the fuel and labor costs associated with frequent commercial mowing, while also avoiding potential chemical herbicide use near sensitive electrical equipment. Industry standards established by groups like the American Solar Grazing Association emphasize rotational grazing schedules to ensure that vegetation is managed evenly without overgrazing the soil beneath the solar arrays.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do sheep damage solar panels? No, sheep generally do not damage solar installations. Fencing protects the equipment, and farmers monitor the animals to ensure they do not chew on wiring or structural components.
- Why use sheep instead of mechanical mowers? Sheep can navigate uneven terrain, rocky ground, and spaces directly beneath low-mounted panels where standard lawn mowers and tractors cannot easily reach.
- Who owns the land used for solar grazing? The land is typically owned or leased by the solar energy developer, who then contracts with local livestock farmers to graze the property.
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