Solar grazing, as it is called, involves sheep serving as a natural landscaping team. The grass under solar farms can grow so tall that it blocks sunlight or poses a fire hazard, but sheep appreciate the shade of the panels and happily graze. They are even more efficient than lawn mowers because they can fit into small spaces between posts and panels, not to mention they are more environmentally friendly. These solar grazing agreements also provide an additional (often much-needed) source of income for local farmers.
Talatan’s solar panels were even adapted with sheep in mind. The first ones installed in 2012 were too short for animals to graze underneath, so they are now mounted higher. Tibet is not the only place where sheep are used to keep the area under solar panels clean. Since 2018, the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) has worked to bring together farmers and solar companies in a mutually beneficial way.
Solar projects can do more than provide clean energy
While the primary goal of solar projects is obviously to provide clean energy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, they can have additional environmental and economic benefits. Separate studies have shown that the soil beneath solar installations is healthier, thereby promoting biodiversity, and that solar panels have already saved lives by reducing air pollution. Investing in solar energy can also reduce energy costs and create jobs.
This is not to say that the unintended effects of solar farms are all positive. Solar panels can pose a threat to wildlife, especially birds, which cannot differentiate between solar farms and lakes. They also need to cover a lot of space to generate enough power to reduce our energy needs; To put things into perspective, it would take millions of solar panels to equal a nuclear reactor. Building facilities large enough may require disturbing wildlife or displacing residents. This often impacts low-income and minority communities, as well as farmers.
Although many arguments against solar and other forms of renewable energy are not made in good faith, there are legitimate social, economic, and environmental concerns that must be addressed. Yet practices such as solar grazing show that the consequences of solar farms are not always negative. Transitioning to green energy sources is an important part of combating human-caused climate change, and if we can do it in a way that has more benefits for the local ecosystem and economy, even better.
