Places > Prairie Wolf Solar

Prairie Wolf Solar

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Location
Illinois | Coles County
Solution
Vegetation Management / Facility Maintenance (SWPPP)
Habitat Types
  • Prairie

CONTACT

Erin Delawalla

M: 314.753.9327

The Prairie Wolf Solar Project in Coles County, Illinois, generates 200 megawatts (MW) of clean solar power. Prairie Wolf Solar is projected to offset carbon dioxide emissions by 285,000 metric tons annually.

In 2021 RES contracted with SOLV Energy, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contractor at Prairie Wolf Solar to provide construction installation and Operations and Maintenance (O&M). Our team worked directly with SOLV Energy to install three seed mixes, which included perennial low-grow grasses, pollinator habitat, and temporary cover crop. Vegetation installation and seedbed preparation were performed before and after the project infrastructure was installed.

Our team completed construction installation in 2021 and maintenance activities started in 2022. We worked directly with the Owner, National Grid Renewables (NGR) to manage vegetation in the first two years of the O&M phase of the project. We will continue to provide maintenance on-site until 2026.

Livestock Grazing

We partnered with a subcontractor, Ormiston Grazers, to manage grazing activities on-site. A combination of sheep and guardian dogs are used to maintain the site. The sheep manage the grass while the guardian dogs protect the sheep from ground and aerial predators. Grazing provides several benefits for vegetation management, including:

  • Enhanced biomass. Sheep graze on the vegetation, which creates an accumulation of biomass on the soil surface.
  • Enhanced soil. Manure from the sheep aids in soil building and plant growth.
  • Reduced soil compaction. Sheep hooves can help break up any existing soil compaction while reducing mowing activity prevents additional compaction.
  • Reduced emissions. A reduction in mowing helps to limit carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Sheep can maneuver more effectively and reach more vegetation than mechanical mowing methods.

Project Highlights

  • Provided vegetation planning, installation, and management of native, perennial, pollinator species on 1,625 acres
  • Contracted directly with the Owner for vegetation management following Project COD with fixed success criteria.
  • Contracted with project EPC to install and manage vegetation during construction
  • SWPPP-compliant project