BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
On a sprawling solar farm in rural Texas, thousands of sheep are hard at work. Beneath rows of glinting panels, the animals nibble through lush pastures, turning vegetation management into an eco-friendly endeavor. At SB Energy’s 4,000-acre solar project in Milam County, the fifth-largest in the U.S., about 3,000 sheep have replaced gas-powered mowers, offering a greener and more effective solution.
“The industry tends to rely on gas-powered mowers, which kind of contradicts the purpose of renewables,” says James Hawkins, an asset manager at SB Energy.
The innovative practice, known as solar grazing, has grown alongside the rapid expansion of solar farms across the country. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, more than 60 solar grazing projects are underway in the U.S., with 27 states actively participating. By combining renewable energy production with agriculture, this method—called agrivoltaics—creates a symbiotic relationship between solar developers and farmers.
Reviving the sheep industry
For ranchers, solar grazing is proving to be more than a clever ecological solution—it’s a financial lifeline. In Texas, the sheep and wool industry has faced declining inventory, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting a four percent drop in the state’s sheep and lamb population as of January 2024.
Sheepherder JR Howard has witnessed the transformative potential of solar grazing firsthand. In 2021, he began contracting with solar farms to manage vegetation using his flock. What started as a modest venture has now blossomed into Texas Solar Sheep, a business with over 8,000 sheep and 26 employees.
“Just the growth has been kind of crazy for us,” Howard shares. “It’s been great for me and my family.”
Reshaping rural communities
Agriculture experts, like Reid Redden of San Angelo, Texas, are optimistic about solar grazing’s potential. Redden calls it “the biggest opportunity the sheep industry has had in several generations,” noting how it provides ranchers with a new way to sustain their livelihoods.
Beyond economic benefits, solar grazing has garnered widespread approval in rural areas. “It softens the blow of the big shock and awe of a big solar farm coming in,” Redden explains, highlighting the positive reception from local communities.
An evolving field
Agrivoltaics isn’t a new concept, but its implications are still being studied. Solar farms are often criticized for their land-intensive nature, which some argue competes with agriculture. Solar grazing counters this by allowing renewable energy production and farming to coexist.
However, as Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, a professor at Texas A&M University, points out, much remains unknown. “We really have more questions than answers,” she says, adding that more research is needed to assess long-term environmental impacts, such as soil health and future agricultural viability.
Still, Gomez-Casanovas notes potential benefits: “Solar grazing may improve sheep productivity because the panels provide shade and can be more cost-efficient than mowing.”
Growing a greener future
Howard’s success story is just the beginning. His business is expanding rapidly, with plans to nearly double his workforce by year’s end. As solar farms continue to proliferate, the demand for grazing services is expected to rise.
This unlikely partnership between sheep and solar panels offers more than practical benefits—it serves as a model for innovative land use that prioritizes both environmental sustainability and economic opportunity.
With initiatives like these, Howard and his flock are showing how renewable energy can harmonize with traditional farming practices. As Howard puts it, “It’s been great for me and my family.”
