Blogs

You don’t always hear sheep and utilities come up in the same conversation. But at a solar field in Washtenaw County, the Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) is exploring how the land can serve a second purpose – supporting a local farmer through sheep grazing.  

Dual use of land has been a topic that’s recently surfaced around the country, especially in connection with renewable energy. Since December 2025, BWL has partnered with Whitetail Solar, which is owned by DESRI and was developed by Ranger Power, to generate 115 megawatts (MW) of clean energy. The project recently partnered with a local farmer who already raised sheep to use the land to also graze them inside of the solar array. This not only brings the BWL one step closer to hitting renewable energy goals, but also the opportunity to integrate with a local farmer for them to benefit from the fields, too.  

And the benefits extend beyond the land, too. Sheep naturally consume the grass, saving costs on fuel and equipment to mow. Today, around 400 sheep are grazing the few hundred-acre site which also provides natural fertilization to the soil. They graze the entire property and eat around 70% of the vegetation while the rest is mowed and maintained by the farmer. This approach can see cost savings but is ultimately a great example of how dual use can benefit both agriculture and local infrastructure.  

These partnerships give farmers access to additional land where they can graze their animals – land they may not have access to otherwise. For solar developers, this could include a way to integrate and promote the agricultural industry alongside clean energy, vegetation management and reduced mowing costs. 

Further north on the Assembly Solar site in Shiawassee County where the BWL gets 80MW of clean energy, a local beekeeper uses the solar field to maintain hives that produce honey.  

The BWL is excited about the possibility to continue these types of partnerships with local farmers on other renewable sites and continues to look for ways to add more clean energy while also benefiting the communities we serve.