AgriSolar News Roundup: Savion in Ohio, Minnesota Solar Grazing, Arizona Agrisolar  

Savion’s Utility-Scale Agrisolar Project in Ohio Now Operational 

“Savion, a Shell Group portfolio company, announced that the Madison Fields Solar Project (MFSP) has achieved commercial operation. The 180 MW solar power plant is located in Madison County, Ohio, and is one of the first operating utility-scale solar sites to intentionally integrate soybeans, alfalfa and forage crop production within the array. 

Over the next 35 to 40 years, the solar plant is expected to produce enough energy to power approximately 38,000 Ohio homes annually. The project will connect to the regional power grid controlled by PJM and is expected to contribute $1.62 million annually to local taxing entities throughout the life of the project, according to Savion.” – PV Magazine  

Sheep Graze Under Solar Panels in Minnesota 

“In rural Chisago County, clippers buzz and wool falls like snow as a flock of about 100 sheep gets a haircut. These animals, owned by Cannon Valley Graziers, aren’t on a sheep farm. Freed from the pen, several ewes congregate under nearby solar arrays, chomping away at weeds and grass. U.S. Solar, which owns multiple sites, contracts with Cannon Valley Graziers to keep the land tidy. This is solar grazing: the practice of using sheep to manage the vegetation on large-scale solar sites.” – mprnews.org 

Solar Panels Benefit Crops in Arizona Amidst Dry Season 

“For 31 straight days last summer, temperatures in Phoenix hit or topped 110 degrees, the longest such streak ever. Searing Arizona heat dehydrates crops and evaporates water the state needs to conserve. Creating shade is one way to combat the problem.  

By using solar panels, farmers can simultaneously protect their plants, save water and lower their energy bills – and some are doing just that with help from federal programs designed to encourage this sustainable method of growing. Photovoltaic panels are placed above the crops, harnessing the sun’s energy while providing valuable shade.” – juancole.com