Energy Support Services, a wholly owned O&M subsidiary of New Energy Equity, developed a vegetation management plan for a DSD Renewables project in Winchester, Virginia.
The rocky terrain and exposed stones where a 1.8 MW ground-mounted solar project is located made mowing under the panels impossible due to the risk of damaging the solar and mowing equipment. DSD contracted with Energy Support Services for a creative alternative for maintaining the seven-acre site at The Village at Orchard Ridge (TVOR), a Lutheran retirement community. The solution was to contract with Katahdin Acres, a member of the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), and use sheep and pigs to manage vegetation through grazing.
“By utilizing the Solar Grazing Association directory and partnering with a local company, Katahdin Acres, the Winchester community is effectively working together to successfully generate sustainable energy where this would otherwise be impossible,” said Conrad Gross, General Manager of Energy Support Services. “We are proud to have facilitated a solution that worked for both DSD and the retirement community to ensure the longevity and success of these solar panels.”
Energy Support Services, DSD Renewables and Katahdin Acres worked together to address initial concerns from residents of the retirement community about the animals’ welfare, including what they would eat and drink, how they would shelter and how they would be protected from wild animals. animals. Katahdin Acres brought a number of kunekune pigs and sheep to The Village at Orchard Ridge for a meet-and-greet, where the company’s experienced team also answered questions from residents.
“It really is a win-win situation to have sheep and pigs to help us maintain the site while giving them a safe place to roam freely. It further demonstrates our collective commitment to deploying innovative solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of our projects in the communities we serve.” says David Eisenbud, Senior Director – Origination at DSD.
Vegetation management coordinated by Energy Support Services and DSD has already been successful, with lambs born this spring now enjoying the forage available on site. The maintenance cost of grazing is 60% of what it costs to mow the same area once and the forage profile has improved from the initial weed growth we saw last year before the sheep and pigs arrived.
News item from Energy Support Services
