The Town of Parry Sound and Lakelands Solutions are thinking outside the baa-x with their new approach to weed management.
A team of approximately 75 goats and sheep have been unleashed upon the 500 kW solar farm at 57 MacFarlane Street. According to officials, overgrown vegetation is shading the solar panels and limiting their ability to produce clean energy.
“This is exactly the kind of practical, creative approach that supports the Town’s sustainability goals while making responsible use of municipal land,” said Mike Kearns, the Town’s Director of Public Works.
Unlike traditional clearing methods that can require heavy equipment, intensive labour, and repeated maintenance visits, goats and sheep naturally browse vegetation in and around hard-to-reach areas.
The pilot project uses managed grazing as a low-impact way to help keep the site clear and productive, and is better aligned with the town’s net-zero goals.
“Growing up on a farm and now pursuing Environmental Engineering at the University of Guelph, it’s been a joy helping with an initiative that supports clean energy production while creating opportunities for environmental stewardship, agriculture, and community collaboration,” said Olivia Cordner, Lakeland Solutions intern.
The pilot began on July 20 and is expected to run for approximately nine days.
According to officials, while the goats and sheep may be the stars of the show, the goal is practical: to test whether managed grazing can help maintain solar production by controlling vegetation and supporting a more sustainable approach to infrastructure maintenance.
