Energy Support Services, a completely owned O&M subsidiary of New Energy Equity, is engaged on a plant administration plan for a DSD Renewables undertaking in Winchester, Virginia.
The rocky terrain and uncovered rock the place a 1.8-MW ground-mounted photo voltaic undertaking is positioned made it unattainable to chop beneath the arrays due to the chance of damaging the photo voltaic and chopping tools. DSD contracted with Energy Support Services for a artistic various to take care of the seven-acre web site at The Village at Orchard Ridge (TVOR), a Lutheran retirement neighborhood. The answer was to contract with Katahdin Acres, a member of the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), and use sheep and pigs to handle the crops by way of grazing.
“By using the affiliation’s photo voltaic grazing listing and partnering with a neighborhood enterprise, Katahdin Acres, the Winchester neighborhood is successfully working collectively to efficiently generate renewable vitality the place it could in any other case be unattainable,” mentioned Conrad. Gross, General Manager of Energy Support Services. “We are proud to facilitate an answer that works for DSD and the retirement neighborhood to make sure the longevity and success of this photo voltaic array.”
Energy Support Services, DSD Renewables, and Katahdin Acres are working collectively to deal with preliminary considerations from retirement neighborhood residents about animal welfare, together with what they need to eat and drink, how they need to sleep -an, and the best way to shield them from wildlife. Katahdin Acres introduced some kunekune pigs and sheep to The Village at Orchard Ridge for a “meet-and-greet” the place the skilled enterprise crew additionally answered questions from residents.
“Having sheep and pigs helps us keep the grounds whereas giving them a protected place to roam freely is an actual win, and additional demonstrates our collective dedication to deploy new answer that reduces the carbon footprint of our initiatives within the communities we serve,” mentioned David Eisenbud, Senior Director – Origination at DSD.
Crop administration coordinated by Energy Support Services and DSD has been profitable, with lambs born this spring already having fun with the forage out there on web site. The upkeep price of grazing is 60% of the price of mowing the identical hectare at one time and the forage profile has improved from the primary weed development seen final yr earlier than the arrival of sheep and pigs.
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