Power Help Providers, a completely owned O&M subsidiary of New Power Fairness, has labored out a vegetation administration plan for a DSD Renewables undertaking in Winchester, Virginia.
The rocky terrain and uncovered stone the place a 1.8-MW ground-mounted photo voltaic undertaking is positioned made mowing underneath the arrays unattainable due to the danger of damaging the photo voltaic and mowing tools. DSD contracted with Power Help Providers for a inventive different to sustaining the seven-acre website at The Village at Orchard Ridge (TVOR), a Lutheran retirement neighborhood. The answer was to contract with Katahdin Acres, a member of the American Photo voltaic Grazing Affiliation (ASGA), and make use of sheep and pigs to handle the vegetation by grazing.
“By utilizing the photo voltaic grazing affiliation’s listing and partnering with a neighborhood enterprise, Katahdin Acres, the Winchester neighborhood is successfully working collectively to efficiently generate renewable vitality the place it might in any other case be unattainable,” mentioned Conrad Gross, Power Help Providers’ Basic Supervisor. “We’re proud to have facilitated an answer that labored for each DSD and the retirement neighborhood to make sure the longevity and success of this photo voltaic array.”
Power Help Providers, DSD Renewables, and Katahdin Acres collaborated to handle preliminary considerations from residents on the retirement neighborhood concerning the animals’ welfare, together with what they might eat and drink, how they might shelter, and the way they might be shielded from wildlife. Katahdin Acres introduced a number of the kunekune pigs and sheep to The Village at Orchard Ridge for a “meet-and-greet” the place the enterprise’s skilled staff additionally answered questions from residents.
“Having sheep and pigs assist us preserve the grounds whereas giving them a secure place to freely roam is actually a win-win, and additional demonstrates our collective dedication to deploying revolutionary options that cut back our tasks’ carbon footprint within the communities we serve,” mentioned David Eisenbud, Senior Director – Origination at DSD.
The vegetation administration coordinated by Power Help Providers and DSD has already been profitable, with lambs born this spring now having fun with the forage obtainable on website. Upkeep prices of grazing are 60% of what it prices to mow the identical acreage one time and the forage profile has improved from the preliminary weedy progress seen final yr earlier than the sheep and pigs arrived.
Information merchandise from Power Help Providers
