Avangrid has welcomed thousands of sheep back to four solar energy facilities in Oregon and Washington this spring to manage vegetation and reduce fire risk during summer, continuing its partnership with a local Oregon rancher. Known as solar grazing, this vegetation management method utilizes grazing sheep instead of machinery to limit the growth of grass and weeds at Avangrid’s solar facilities.

“This is a partnership and a management strategy indicative of Avangrid’s long-term commitment to these communities,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “Not only are we effectively managing our facilities in ways that incorporate the region’s historical ties to ranching, but cultivating strong local partnerships to collaboratively maintain our solar projects.”

Over 5,000 sheep are currently managing vegetation at Daybreak Solar, Bakeoven Solar and Pachwáywit Fields Solar in Oregon, and Lund Hill Solar in Washington. Avangrid has partnered with Cameron Krebs, owner of Krebs Solar Grazing, to manage the growth of grass and weeds at solar projects on the Columbia Plateau since 2024. Krebs is a fifth-generation Oregon rancher whose family has a long history of lamb and wool production in the region.

“When new industries move into our communities, it’s nice to see a partner like Avangrid engaging those of us who are born and raised here and looking at sustainable ways to take care of this landscape together,” said Krebs. “Our primary objective is to reduce the vegetation in the facility, maintain its high functionality, and create resilience through summer.”

Avangrid personnel and Krebs work together to create a grazing plan for the spring growing season. Sheep effectively maneuver around and underneath solar panels, consuming grass and weeds at the project site. By controlling vegetation growth in the spring, solar grazing helps Avangrid reduce fire risk at its solar projects during the region’s hot, dry summers.

“What began as a small pilot project in 2023 has turned into a full-fledged vegetation management operation in just a few short years,” said Lora Chante, Vice President of Operations and Maintenance at Avangrid. “We build our projects with the intent to operate them for 30 years or more, meaning it is important that we remain a great neighbor and exceptional community partner. Utilizing sheep grazing at our solar projects is helping us accomplish these goals by keeping our facilities clean and safe.”

Avangrid is considering opportunities to add solar grazing to future solar facilities in the region and across the country.

KeyFacts Energy: Avangrid Renewables US country profile   l   KeyFacts Energy News: Solar