Last week, ASGA launched our first-ever solar grazing training for solar companies, which we’re calling “What to Expect When You’re Expecting…Sheep.”
Why train solar companies on how sheep work? There’s no better way to ensure the growing success of the solar grazing industry than to arm solar companies with knowledge on how it works and the benefits.
The workshop, sponsored and hosted by Enel North America, began with a master class on the mechanics of solar grazing and good farmer partnerships. Instructors Caroline Owens (Owens Farm) and Reid Redden (Premier Solar Sheep) walked through how sheep control vegetation, good sheep management and animal welfare, guardian dogs, best practices for solar site teams to engage with farmers and sheep, and the benefits of sheep grazing. The instruction included a panel with solar graziers JR Howard, Chad Raines, and Camren Maierle, as well as the site manager for Enel’s Stampede Solar Site, Joseph Quick.
After the classroom intensive, JR Howard led a tour of Enel’s Stampede Solar Site, where he showed them the equipment he uses and his management approach. Joseph and his team graciously shared their perspective on the benefits solar grazing has brought to their site.
The phenomenal group of solar firm attendees came from a wide variety of positions – development, operations, site management, maintenance, community engagement, asset management, sustainability, and construction and engineering.
We’ll have three more workshops this year in Indiana, Virginia, and Texas. If you’re part of a solar firm or work with solar firms who you think would be interested in the trainings, send the link to join the waiting list: https://solargrazing.org/asga-training-waiting-list
You can learn more about the program here: https://solargrazing.org/solar-industry-certification/
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Sulphur Springs – you’re helping create incredible opportunities for farmers across the country!
ASGA’s Certification Director, Caroline Owens, did a fantastic job putting together the curriculum and workshop.
Thank you to our sponsor and host, Enel North America. We want to thank Jesse Puckett, Martin Krebs, and Adam Sotirakopoulos for making all of this possible. We are grateful to Joseph Quick and his Stampede Solar team for allowing us to invade their site and sharing their valuable knowledge.
We could not have done this without JR Howard and his willingness to share his extensive knowledge and allowing us to peek under the lid of his operation. We appreciate solar graziers Chad Raines and Camren Maierle taking time out of their busy operations to share their knowledge as well.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Leeward Renewable Energy for sponsoring the program development, and Tiffany Buck for inspiring and getting ASGA the resources to create this program.
Thank you to all of the companies that sent their team members to learn about solar grazing:
Arevon
Candela Renewables, LLC
Clearway Energy Group
EDF Renewables North America
Enel North America
JUWI Inc.
Leeward Renewable Energy
National Grid Renewables
Open Road Renewables
Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC
Pine Gate Renewables
Recurrent Energy
REV Renewables
RWE
Savion
