Illinois farms are some of the newer sites for solar generation. Researchers around the country are exploring agrivoltaics – or using the land for the dual purposes of agriculture and solar energy production – and they view farms as ideal territory. Solar operators need to keep vegetation controlled, and sheep are an effective and ecological way to achieve that goal. Trent Gerlach,  a farmer from Winslow, Illinois, rents and harvests the land owned by Acciona, a multinational renewable energy company. He says initially he wasn't on board with the idea – but now sees the benefit.

Gerlach has a direct contract with Acciona to manage the vegetation under the solar panels. Illinois farmers are raising about 55-thousand sheep, according to the U-S-D-A.

The collaboration of sheep farms as solar centers has been met with some challenges. Gerlach says solar panels are installed low to the ground, which can hamper grass growth and produce weeds. Efficient vegetation management is key, so the weeds won't block the sun's rays and compromise the efficiency of the panels. Gerlach had to find an alternative to a costly, ineffective mechanical lawn mower.

Gerlach says goats would not be suitable on solar farms because they like to chew wires. And cows, because of their size, could rub against the panels and break them. He admits he's disappointed that the land isn't being used to raise corn, soybeans, or other crops, but sees the solar panels as a way for sheep to keep production agriculture alive.