Mon Power Brings Solar Grazing to West Virginia Site
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) subsidiary Mon Power used solar grazing at an 80-acre, 18.9-megawatt Fort Martin solar site on Nov. 20, 2025, deploying about 350 sheep to maintain vegetation under roughly 50,000 solar panels.
The practice, managed by contractor Sivic LLC, rotated animals every four to six days to trim weeds under panels; sheep will overwinter offsite and return in spring. The Fort Martin site is one of three in Mon Power and Potomac Edison's West Virginia program, totaling 30 MW of solar capacity and offering customers the option to purchase solar renewable energy credits (SRECs).
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) sussidiaria Mon Power ha utilizzato pascolo solare in un sito solare Fort Martin da 80 acri, con 18,9 megawatt il 20 nov 2025, schierando circa 350 pecore per mantenere la vegetazione sotto circa 50.000 pannelli solari.
La pratica, gestita dall'appaltatore Sivic LLC, ruotava gli animali ogni quattro-sei giorni per rifinire l'erba sotto i pannelli; le pecore passeranno l'inverno fuori sede e faranno ritorno in primavera. Il sito Fort Martin è uno dei tre nel programma west Virginia di Mon Power e Potomac Edison, per un totale di 30 MW di capacità solare e offrendo ai clienti l'opzione di acquistare crediti di energia rinnovabile solare (SREC).
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) subsidiaria Mon Power utilizó pastoreo solar en un sitio solar Fort Martin de 80 acres y 18,9 megavatios el 20 de nov de 2025, desplegando aproximadamente 350 ovejas para mantener la vegetación bajo aproximadamente 50.000 paneles solares.
La práctica, gestionada por el contratista Sivic LLC, rotaba a los animales cada cuatro a seis días para recortar las malas hierbas bajo los paneles; las ovejas pasarán el invierno fuera del sitio y regresarán en la primavera. El sitio Fort Martin es uno de los tres en el programa de West Virginia de Mon Power y Potomac Edison, con un total de 30 MW de capacidad solar y ofreciendo a los clientes la opción de comprar créditos de energía renovable solar (SRECs).
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE)의 자회사인 Mon Power은 2025년 11월 20일에 80에이커 규모의 Fort Martin 태양광 사이트에서 태양광 방목을 사용하여 약 350마리의 양을 투입해 약 50,000개의 태양광 패널 아래의 식생을 관리했습니다.
이 관행은 Sivic LLC라는 계약업체가 관리했으며 패널 아래의 잡초를 다듬기 위해 4~6일마다 동물을 순환시켰습니다. 양들은 겨울을 현장 밖에서 보내고 봄에 돌아올 예정입니다. Fort Martin 사이트는 Mon Power와 Potomac Edison의 웨스트버지니아 프로그램 중 세 곳 중 하나로, 총 30 MW의 태양광 용량을 제공하며 고객에게 태양광 재생 에너지 크레딧(SREC)을 구입할 수 있는 옵션을 제공합니다.
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) filiale Mon Power a utilisé l'herbage solaire sur un site solaire Fort Martin de 80 acres et de 18,9 mégawatts le 20 novembre 2025, déployant environ 350 moutons pour entretenir la végétation sous environ 50 000 panneaux solaires.
La pratique, gérée par l'entrepreneur Sivic LLC, faisait tourner les animaux toutes les quatre à six jours pour tailler les mauvaises herbes sous les panneaux; les moutons passeront l'hiver hors du site et reviendront au printemps. Le site Fort Martin est l'un des trois du programme de West Virginia de Mon Power et Potomac Edison, totalisant 30 MW de capacité solaire et offrant aux clients la possibilité d'acheter des crédits d'énergie renouvelable solaire (SREC).
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) Tochtergesellschaft Mon Power setzte am 20. November 2025 bei einer 80 Hektar großen, 18,9 Megawatt starken Fort Martin-Solaranlage Solar-Weidehaltung ein und setzte ca. 350 Schafe ein, um die Vegetation unter rund 50.000 Solarzellen zu pflegen.
Die Praxis, betreut von Sivic LLC, rotiert die Tiere alle vier bis sechs Tage, um Unkraut unter den Paneelen zu stutzen; die Schafe verbringen den Winter außerhalb des Standorts und kehren im Frühjahr zurück. Die Fort Martin-Anlage ist eine von drei im West Virginia-Programm von Mon Power und Potomac Edison, insgesamt 30 MW Solarleistung; Kunden haben die Option, Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) zu erwerben.
FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) الشركة التابعة Mon Power استخدمت الرعي الشمسي في موقع Fort Martin الشمسي بمساحة 80 فداناً وبقدرة 18.9 ميغاوات في 20 نوفمبر 2025، مع نشر نحو 350 خروفاً للحفاظ على الغطاء النباتي تحت نحو 50,000 لوح شمسي.
الممارسة، التي تديرها شركة Sivic LLC المتعاقدة، قامت بتدوير الحيوانات كل أربعة إلى ستة أيام لقص الأعشاب تحت الألواح؛ ستقضي الخراف الشتاء خارج الموقع وتعود في الربيع. موقع Fort Martin هو أحد ثلاثة مواقع في برنامج مون باور وبوتومك إيديـسون في فرجينيا الغربية، بإجمالي 30 MW من قدرة الطاقة الشمسية ويتيح للعملاء خيار شراء اعتمادات الطاقة المتجددة الشمسية (SRECs).
- 18.9 MW Fort Martin solar site operational since early 2024
- Program totals 30 MW across three West Virginia sites
- None.
Hundreds of sheep kept vegetation trimmed at 80-acre solar facility in Monongalia County
This method of natural lawnmowing is currently being used at 506 solar sites in 30 states, according to the American Solar Grazing Association.
Dan Rossero, Vice President of FirstEnergy's West Virginia Generation: "We're managing this site with an innovative approach that blends renewable energy and agriculture for the benefit of our community. Solar grazing allows us to keep the site operating efficiently while supporting local farmers and reducing our environmental footprint. By partnering with sheep farmers and advancing solar power, we're making a positive impact that extends well beyond the fence line."
Nature's Natural Lawnmowers
If a solar site's vegetation grows too high, it can create shade that prevents the panels from generating energy. Sheep are naturally suited for the mowing task:
- They enjoy eating a variety of weeds and invasive species.
- They can graze underneath the solar panels, where it is more challenging to trim with mowers and weed eaters.
- They are sheltered from the rain and heat by the panels.
Local Sheep at Work
At the Fort Martin solar site, which went into service in early 2024, Mon Power has contracted with Sivic LLC, a solar grazing company headed by Nate Dean and Luci Mosesso, farmers based in
Approximately 350 sheep grazed at the site through the fall. Sivic moved the sheep around the property every four to six days, using temporary fencing to ensure that vegetation was trimmed consistently throughout the property. With the vegetation growth now slowing, the sheep will spend the winter at their farm in
"It's a regenerative way to manage vegetation on a site that's already regenerative itself as a renewable energy source," says Dean.
West Virginia Solar Program
The 18.9-megawatt Fort Martin solar site was the first of three sites developed as part of Mon Power and Potomac Edison's solar program, which involves development of solar projects on brownfield or impacted industrial properties. With two additional sites in
Through the solar program, Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers in
Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34
Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.