Sheep Help Maintain Solar Array at Pa. University

Susquehanna University’s solar array was built in 2018, just outside the city of Selinsgrove, Pa. It generates about 3 MW of power to provide roughly 30 percent of the university’s energy supply. The array covers about 14 acres. And from April through November of each year, the university enlists help from an unconventional source to help keep the site maintained.

A flock of about 40 sheep from the nearby Owens Farm is given free rein to graze the area, proving just as effective and more sustainable than traditional lawn maintenance. “Their job is to graze. A sheep will eat—not just grass, but they’ll eat weeds and all kinds of vegetation,” said Caroline Owens of Owens Farm. “If you look at all the jobs that a sheep could have, this is number one.”

Susquehanna University solar array sheep

Derek Martin, the Assistant Director of Sustainability at Susquehanna University, explained the method behind the madness. “We’re eliminating the need for lawnmowing, which eliminates fossil fuels that need to be used on this property. At the same time, the sheep also fertilize our soil,” he said.

The sheep do more than just keep the grass short; they actively contribute to the health of the greenery and soil. “As the flock grazes, they also improve soil health, sequester carbon, support pollinator habitat, and build community goodwill while avoiding the risk of equipment damage from mowing activities,” said Owens, who’s also a member of the American Solar Grazing Association. “It’s truly a win-win for all parties.”

The partnership between the university and Owens Farm began in 2019. Owens Farm provides a breed of domestic sheep called Katahdin, which don’t produce wool but are known for pasture lambing and grass/forage-based management. The sheep are rotated throughout the 14 acres during their six months of service to ensure even maintenance across the entire space.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Springfield Breaks Ground on $53.7M Pipkin Middle School Rebuild

    Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Mo., a major step in Springfield Public Schools’ (SPS) long-term facility improvement plan, according to local news. The $53.7-million project officially broke ground in early June, following years of planning and community input aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure and addressing student capacity concerns.

  • ProTeam Launches GoFit 6 HEPA Backpack Vacuum

    Technology leader Emerson recently introduced the new ProTeam GoFit 6 HEPA backpack vacuum, according to a news release. The vacuum was designed to capture 99.97% of particulates down to 0.3 microns—including atmospheric hazards like lead dust, mold spores, and other particulates—through an advanced filtration system.

  • California High School Starts Construction on New CTE Building

    Analy High School, part of the West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently broke ground on a new Career Technical Education (CTE) Building, according to a news release. The 15,000-square-foot facility will offer specialized facilities for students in engineering, welding, culinary arts, agricultural sciences, and design thinking.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

Digital Edition