Avangrid, a leading sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, has partnered with a multi-generational Oregon rancher to introduce sheep grazing at two solar farms in Oregon and Washington.
This collaboration marks the largest “solar grazing” initiative in the region, utilizing livestock to manage vegetation at renewable energy facilities. Sheep effectively control weed and vegetation growth, mitigating wildfire risks while replacing gas-powered machinery.
Pachwáywit Fields Pilot Project Expands
Avangrid initiated this endeavor last year with a pilot project at Pachwáywit Fields, Oregon’s largest operational solar farm located in Gilliam County, serving Portland General Electric’s (PGE) Green Future Impact participants.
The PGE program aims to assist large commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in achieving their sustainability and carbon reduction objectives.
Successful Pilot Leads to Full-Scale Operations
By spring, Avangrid scaled the pilot into a comprehensive solar grazing operation at Pachwáywit Fields. Additionally, a similar operation was launched at the Lund Hill solar farm in Klickitat County, Washington, the state’s largest solar facility. At its peak, over 5,000 sheep grazed across both sites.
CEO Highlights Sustainability and Community Benefits
Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO, underscored the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, stating, “These sheep not only offer a more environmentally friendly solution for vegetation management, but they also support our local community and contribute to a circular economy in the Pacific Northwest.”
Partnership with Fifth-Generation Rancher
The sheep grazing at these solar farms belong to Cameron Krebs, a fifth-generation Oregon rancher who specializes in wool and lamb production. Krebs and his family have a long-standing partnership with Oregon-based Pendleton Woolen Mills, supplying wool fiber for over a century.
Positive Observations from Rancher and Solar Manager
“There has been a significant learning curve, but it is fascinating to see how the sheep have adapted to efficiently navigate under and around the solar panels to graze,” remarked Krebs.
“They are consuming substantial amounts of vegetation daily, effectively converting carbon into food and fiber or returning it to the soil naturally. By reducing overall vegetation on site, we’re significantly mitigating the fuel load and fire risk as we enter the hot, dry summer.”
Dustin Ervin, Avangrid’s senior solar manager for Oregon and Washington, added, “The sheep maneuver around our solar panels with greater ease than the large mowing equipment we previously used, and they graze right up to the panel arrays. We are proud to have brought this concept to fruition and look forward to witnessing how other renewable energy companies establish similar sustainable partnerships.”
Future Expansion of Solar Grazing
Avangrid intends to continue utilizing sheep at both Pachwáywit Fields and Lund Hill for the foreseeable future, managing vegetation during peak growing seasons. The company is also actively exploring opportunities to expand solar grazing to other solar facilities within its portfolio.