How 2,500 Sheep Are Transforming Solar Maintenance In Clear Lake

CLEAR LAKE (WJON News) -- A Central Minnesota energy facility is getting a boost from some unlikely workers. Nearly 2,500 sheep are flooding Xcel Energy's Sherco Solar Site in Clear Lake. The sheep will help manage vegetation at the site by grazing on native, pollinator-friendly forage.

PHOTO courtesy o Xcel Energy.

PHOTO courtesy of Xcel Energy.

The grass and bush management is vital for any solar installation, so operators on site can access the equipment for maintenance and inspections. Xcel Energy says the Foley raised sheep are an environmentally friendly alternative to gas-powered mowing equipment and can also help remove invasive species and reduce the need for weed killer.

PHOTO courtesy of Xcel Energy.

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PHOTO courtesy of Xcel Energy.

Xcel says Sherco Solar 1 is the first phase of a larger, 710 megawatt solar installation scheduled to be completed in 2026 near Becker and that will be one of the largest solar installations in the Upper Midwest. The more than 1,500 adult sheep and hundreds of lambs will remain at the Clear Lake site throughout the summer and into fall.

PHOTO courtesy of Xcel Energy.

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