Vermont couple grew 30 sheep into 500, grazing 1,500 acres of solar sites

What started in 2018 as a small trial with just 30 sheep has grown into a commercial operation that now manages vegetation around thousands of solar panels across the American Northeast. Husband-and-wife farmers Lewis Fox and Niko Kochendoerfer founded Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC in Vermont. They developed a model that uses livestock instead of mechanical mowers to control grass and weeds around solar energy sites. According to a case study published by the American Solar Grazing Association, the couple's business has grown from its first flock of 30 sheep to 500 sheep managing vegetation across 1,500 acres of solar sites. The operation shows how farming and renewable energy can work together. The model can provide steady income for regional livestock producers while lowering maintenance costs for energy companies.Scaling up operations across state bordersSolar grazing uses sheep to eat grass, weeds, and brush growing around ground-mounted solar arrays.