Deep in the heart of Iowa, a flock of 50 sheep took off to greener pastures in an out of the ordinary place. The City of Ames recruited these sheep for a summer-long stay on a 10-acre plot of land home to a community solar farm called SunSmart Ames.   

Nestled between Airport Road and Highway 30, SunSmart Ames is a community solar project developed through a partnership between ForeFront Power and the City of Ames. The 2-megawatt solar energy system hosts nearly 6,000 solar panels and produces enough electricity to power about 450 homes each year. Over the 20-year contract term with ForeFront Power, the system’s clean energy production is projected to offset 113 million car miles and reduce the City’s CO2 emissions by about 57,000 tons.  

SunSmart Ames is an award-winning project designed to make clean energy more accessible for all City of Ames residents.  Since its completion in 2020, SunSmart Ames has helped City residents — especially those unable to install solar panels due to shaded roofs, rented properties, or other limitations — power their living spaces with lower cost, clean, renewable electricity. Any municipal electric customer can opt to save money through local solar by purchasing “shares” of the SunSmart Ames project’s energy output, which are called “Power Packs.” 

Solar energy projects like SunSmart Ames are at their best when they benefit electricity consumers and add value to the land they’re built on. That’s where the sheep come in. Although they may seem like an unlikely pairing, solar energy and sheep have become a dynamic duo in the growing field of agrivoltaics. The sheep at SunSmart Ames come from Sheep on the Go Ames, a company that provides sheep and goat flocks to local affiliates seeking to sustainably regenerate soil and manage unwanted vegetation through animal grazing. From the initial 50 sheep brought from Sheep on the Go Ames, several lambs were born over the course of the summer.  

Incorporating grazing sheep into SunSmart Ames is a win-win for both the sheep and the solar energy system. Sheep were selected because they thrive on grass, whereas cattle and goats need additional nutrients and also pose a greater risk of damaging equipment due to their size. While the sheep naturally regenerate the soil and control vegetation, they also get to rest and enjoy the shade beneath the abundance of solar arrays throughout the summer. SunSmart Ames demonstrates how dual use of land can bridge agriculture and power generation – a prime example of agrivoltaics.  

For Ames residents interested in participating in the SunSmart Ames community solar program, Power Packs are currently available for purchase. Each Power Pack is a one-time investment and represents 175W of generating capacity, which translates to monthly credits o a household utility bill. Each year, the price of the Power Packs is reduced by $15 to reflect the years remaining in the 20-year contract term. As of January 10, 2024, the price of power packs is $240, and will reduce by another $15 on December 10, 2025. 

For more details about purchasing SunSmart Ames Power Packs, visit the program page on cityofames.org 

To learn more about the community solar project, check out our City of Ames case study.