Sheep at work: A new approach to vegetation management at Hoot Lake Solar

If you've driven past Hoot Lake Solar in Fergus Falls this summer, you may have noticed something unexpected among the rows of solar panels—sheep!

While they may seem like an unlikely addition to a solar facility, about 280 sheep are spending the summer grazing at the site to help maintain the landscape surrounding nearly 130,000 solar panels.

Managing more than solar panels
Hoot Lake Solar spans 450 acres and features pollinator-friendly habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Like any large property, it requires ongoing upkeep. For years, maintaining vegetation across the solar facility meant multiple mowing cycles each season using tractors and specialized equipment capable of reaching beneath the panels. 

"Managing a pollinator-friendly landscape looks different than maintaining a traditional lawn," said Generation I Supervisor Clay Montag. "We wanted to find an approach that better matched the habitat while reducing time spent on labor-intensive work."

Sheep grazing offered a good fit, so we partnered with MNL, a Minnesota-based company that specializes in ecological land management. Throughout the season, MNL manages the flock, using temporary paddocks to move the sheep across the property as needed.

"Solar sites in Minnesota are often planted with native, pollinator-friendly habitat," said MNL Solar Project Manager and Estimator Jodee Nohner. "Sheep grazing works well in those environments because it's compatible with both the habitat and the operation of the facility."

Benefits beyond mowing
While the sheep may be the most visible part of this effort, the benefits extend beyond grazing.

This approach reduces the need for repeated mowing, lowers fuel use, and limits wear on maintenance equipment. It also frees up a large amount of labor hours each year that we can redirect toward maintaining and monitoring the equipment that generates electricity for our customers.

By keeping vegetation under control throughout the season, grazing may also help reduce the buildup of dry plant material and support efforts to manage wildfire risk.

"We're always looking for ways to care for the land while making the best use of our time and resources," said Montag. "Sheep grazing gives us an opportunity to manage the property's vegetation differently and evaluate how it fits alongside more traditional approaches."

The temporary woolly residents at Hoot Lake Solar are settling in well. While they're busy grazing their way across the site this summer, they're also helping us explore a different approach to vegetation management while supporting both the landscape and the operation of the facility.