Using “Renewable Grass Maintenance” around “Renewable Energy Sources”

Out on U.S. 136, just west of the Danville Correctional Center, Pivot Energy operates a three acre, 500 kilowatt solar farm that connects to the power grid and can provide energy for about 20 homes.  It’s one of 20 to 25 sites Pivot Energy has in Illinois.  And when you stop by a Pivot solar farm, you will most likely see the grass being managed not by mowers, but by grazing sheep.

The Route 136 site came online last winter.  And during this first active summer, thanks to a third party connecting solar farms with sheep farmers; Pivot Energy is working with Oakwood rancher Brandon Fink.  A while back, he had more than 30 of his sheep at the site for 12 days to keep the grass low.  And on Wednesday (June 11th), six of them were back for a quick snack.

Fink says this is a great way to use ALL of the solar energy on the site.  The solar panels provide energy to homes, while the grass that benefitted from the sun helps keep his sheep fed.

(1st and 3rd Pictures) Brandon Fink’s sheep enjoy grazing time both underneath and between solar panels.   (2nd Picture) Fink and Pivot Energy’s Angie Burke chat prior to the release of Fink’s sheep for grazing time.

AUDIO: I would say it’s a win-win for everybody.  The solar owners get more effective control than by mechanical mowing; and my sheep get the forage, and turn it into grass finished lamb.

Pivot Energy Director of Operations and Management Angie Burke says grazing is what they aim for first on all of their solar panel sites nationwide.

AUDIO: We’re actually defaulting to sheep grazing on our solar sites.  So, we have livestock actively grazing on 98 percent of our acreage all across the United States, including Illinois.

And Pivot’s Nate Zirlen says, that’s exactly what they want to do.

AUDIO: We’re not only capturing clean energy; but we’re able to be stewards of the land, and have great partnerships.  Instead of mechanically mowing, we’re grazing sheep; which is going to be better for the local farm providers.  And it’s going to be better for the land as well.

Pivot Energy was founded in St. Louis, with its corporate office currently located in Denver.