{"id":19562,"date":"2024-06-11T21:22:28","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T21:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightsourcebp.com\/news\/preserving-habitat-and-integrating-agriculture-at-impact-solar\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T23:37:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T23:37:33","slug":"preserving-habitat-and-integrating-agriculture-at-impact-solar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/preserving-habitat-and-integrating-agriculture-at-impact-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"Preserving habitat and integrating agriculture at Impact Solar, three years in"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Preserving habitat and integrating agriculture at Impact Solar, three years in<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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After more than three years of commercial operation, the Impact solar farm<\/a> in Lamar County, Texas provides great insights into the value of multiuse solar for energy, people and the environment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 260MWdc solar farm came online in early 2021, complete with a long-term land management plan. Later on, we introduced a large-scale sheep ranching operation to the site, which quickly became the largest year-round solar grazing site in the country. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep reading to learn about the ecosystem and social benefits this project is creating as of spring 2024.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Developed for success<\/h3>\n

Before it was a solar farm, the Impact Solar site was primarily agricultural pasture and cropland, featuring small areas of native riparian, woodland, and grassland ecosystems. In developing the project, Lightsource bp created a detailed biodiversity management plan outlining specific plans to protect and enhance these valuable patches of native habitat. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Grazing sheep at the solar farm<\/h3>\n

During its second year of operation, Impact Solar had grown so much vegetation that mechanical mowing was no longer the most cost-effective maintenance method. Lightsource bp enlisted a Texas ranching family to help via solar grazing, a form of agrivoltaics<\/a> that introduces sheep to solar farms. This keeps the land in agricultural production throughout the solar project\u2019s life, while providing an eco-friendly and effective solution to \u201cmowing the lawn\u201d. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The ranchers originally brought about 600 sheep to site but quickly recognized an opportunity to further scale their business. By 2022, more than 2,000 sheep were chomping on vegetation under and around the solar panels. It is thought to be the largest year-round grazing site in the United States. \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As they eat, the sheep will spread manure to fertilize the soil. Sheep also attract beneficial insects and combat invasive weeds as they forage. Watch our video to meet the solar shepherds caring for the flock and to learn more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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