CLEANER ENERGY

Our partnerships at local solar facilities are helping to advance sustainability beyond energy.

A number of MGE’s local solar facilities provide more than renewable energy to power our households and businesses. They also support local agriculture and provide pollinator habitat.

Where sheep and solar share the land 

Each growing season, typically June through October, sheep from Fitchburg-based Wiscovery Farm help manage vegetation at MGE’s nearby solar fields. 

Tyto Solar in Fitchburg was the first MGE project to introduce solar grazing in 2024. In 2026, the sheep will return to Tyto for their third season of helping to keep the solar panels operating efficiently. They also will graze at MGE's Strix Solar in Fitchburg and Hermsdorf Solar Fields in Madison this summer. 

The sheep provide natural, low‑impact vegetation control to keep the grass and brush from shading the solar panels. This “solar grazing” helps reduce the need for mowing powered by fossil fuels. It’s an example of agrivoltaics, or dual-use solar, which is the practice of using land for both renewable energy and agriculture. 

Butterflies, bees and a thriving ecosystem 

Pollinator habitats are shrinking nationwide, reducing food sources and nesting areas for bees, butterflies and other insects vital to pollinating plants and supporting food production. 

MGE partners with vegetation consultants to create thriving pollinator habitats by choosing plant mixes suited to Wisconsin’s climate. These plantings provide nectar and forage for pollinators from spring through fall. A mature habitat typically develops in three to five years.  

The perennial ground cover planted at several solar sites can help preserve farmland by providing a recovery period for the soil while also helping to improve water quality by reducing phosphorus runoff, which can impact nearby waterways. 

MGE's O’Brien Solar Fields, Morey Field Solar and portions of the Hermsdorf Solar Fields and Dane County Airport Solar are planted with native species that support pollinators.