ewbrown sheep - sheep near solar panels image for Sustainability

A ‘Ewe’nique Partnership

Nestled in the rolling hills of Mercer County, Kentucky, E.W. Brown Generating Station is home to four different types of energy generating resources, including a nearly 100-yearold hydroelectric facility and the first, and largest, existing universal solar facility in the commonwealth.

Mowing grass that grows under and around solar arrays can be difficult to do with conventional lawn mowers, so LG&E and KU turned to an unconventional partnership: grazing sheep.
The sheep are generally docile, small and, through their grazing, can keep vegetation at the site to a minimum, which will reduce maintenance costs over the long-term.

LG&E and KU are partnering with Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill – which manages a working farm and nature preserve – on the project. As the sheep manage the solar field’s vegetation, farmers from Shaker Village, Kentucky’s largest National Historic Landmark, will manage the flock.

The flock will initially have 10 acres to graze. By this time next year, the number of sheep is expected to multiply three-fold, eventually growing large enough to maintain the entire 50-acre solar farm.

Visit lge-ku.com/sheep and tune in to our “Ewetube” channel to watch the sheep live and learn more about the partnership with Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

April 20, 2021

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