At its 40-acre Christiana, Tennessee farm, the company is rotating 10 cows and calves beneath panels while still supplying about 5 megawatts to Middle Tennessee Electric.
Panels are set near-horizontal during grazing using software, aiming over the next year to show cattle can coexist with solar equipment and help expand low-carbon power without removing farmland from production.
The project builds on wider solar grazing, mostly with sheep, as advocates say shaded pasture can improve moisture retention, reduce heat stress and give farmers lease income far above traditional agriculture.
With cattle now grazing under solar panels, what unforeseen animal or crop will be integrated next in the push for dual-use land?
As solar grazing expands, will small family farms benefit, or will large corporations dominate this new 'agri-energy' market?
Beyond boosting profits, what are the hidden environmental costs of placing industrial energy infrastructure on agricultural lands?