DTE’s four-legged landscaping crew just got a little woollier.
For the past year, employees have watched Vincent Van Goat and friends munch their way through invasive vegetation at our service centers. The goats have become local celebrities, helping manage overgrown areas while supporting DTE’s environmental goals and bringing plenty of smiles along the way.
Now, DTE’s nature-based vegetation management work has expanded to Turrill Solar Park in Lapeer, where a flock of sheep is helping maintain the land beneath and around solar panels.
“Using sheep for vegetation management at solar parks is a proven agrivoltaic practice, which means the same land is used for both clean energy generation and agriculture,” said Collin O’Shaughnessy, supervisor of environmental sustainability and forecast at DTE. “It’s another way we are putting our commitment to sustainable land management into action – creating environmental, operational and community benefits through the efficient use of the land.”
An organization called Michigoat ushered the sheep in this July after months of site preparation and coordination between DTE’s Environmental and Renewable teams and the City of Lapeer. Local shepherd, George Nummer, will monitor and care for the sheep while they are on site, with the panels providing a convenient place for them to cool off during Michigan’s hot summer afternoons.
Of course, goats and sheep approach the job a little differently.
The goats have become known for their adventurous personalities, employee meet-and-greets and seemingly endless appetites. They’ve helped us manage invasive species, inspired naming contests and created memorable photo opportunities.
The sheep seem content to quietly get down to business.
Their arrival builds on work already underway across DTE to use grazing animals as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional vegetation maintenance methods. These practices support biodiversity, reduce the need for heavy equipment, help improve soil health and contribute to long-term maintenance value.
This work also reflects DTE’s continued commitment to finding smart, sustainable ways to maintain our sites. At service centers, goats will continue removing invasive species like phragmites while native seeds are planted to help restore the land, increase biodiversity and reduce long-term maintenance costs. At solar parks, sheep add another practical option for keeping vegetation under control while supporting the dual use of land for renewable energy and agriculture.
“I am excited to see us launch this sheep grazing pilot at one of our solar sites,” said Marcus Adams, supervisor in Renewables at DTE. “One of the things I appreciate most about this pilot is that it challenges us to think differently about how we manage our solar sites and how we can make a positive environmental impact while supporting local farmers. I’m proud to be part of a team that’s willing to test innovative ideas that benefit both our operations and the communities where we work.”
The effort at Turrill Solar Park helps demonstrate how grazing can complement the work already being done by DTE’s famous goat crew and support similar opportunities at other sites in the future.
For now, employees and passers-by in Lapeer may notice a few fluffy faces on the job.
As much as we’d like to believe Vincent Van Goat was involved in the hiring process, we’re pretty sure the sheep earned their positions on their own merits. Either way, DTE is excited to welcome the newest members of the environmental team.
When it comes to keeping sites well maintained, every member of the herd has an important role to play.