GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ARRAYS ON FARMLAND WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY IN NUMBER IN THE US NORTHEAST IN THE COMING YEARS AND OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CO-LOCATION WITH SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL EXPLORE HOW RENEWABLE ENERGY CAN BE CO-LOCATED WITH SHEEP GRAZING TO ACHIEVE MULTIPLE POSITIVE ECOSYSTEM OUTCOMES: SHEEP WILL BE GRAZED IN A 54-ACRE, GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ARRAY TO TEST THE IMPACT OF 6 DIFFERENT STOCKING DENSITIES. RESEARCH WILL INVESTIGATE ASPECTS OF ANIMAL, HABITAT, AND SOIL HEALTH, INCLUDING SHEEP WELFARE, HEALTH, AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS, AS WELL AS FORAGE BIODIVERSITY, POLLINATOR HABITAT, AND SOIL ORGANIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION. GENERATED DATA WILL HELP IDENTIFY UNDERLYING SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS CONNECTING SHEEP GRAZING DENSITY WITH ECOSYSTEMS IMPACTS RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND HABITAT DECLINE.FINDINGS WILL ESTABLISH BEST MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED FOR MANAGING THE VEGETATION IN GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ARRAYS WITH SHEEP. THESE ESTABLISHED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WILL PRODUCE MULTIFORM POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR ECOSYSTEMS, LIVESTOCK, FARMERS AND THE PUBLIC. FOR EXAMPLE, THESE PRACTICES WILL ALLOW FOR INCREASED BIODIVERSITY OF FORAGED HABITAT AND INCREASED POLLINATOR ABUNDANCE IN GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ARRAYS. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR OPTIMAL AMOUNTS OF SEQUESTERED CARBON AND PROVIDE OPTIMAL NUTRITION FOR SHEEP. ADDITIONALLY, THESE PRACTICES WILL HELP PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY, LOCALLY-RAISED MEAT WITH THE BENEFIT OF INCREASED FARM FINANCIAL VIABILITY GAINED THROUGH VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS. IN ALL, THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND USE AND PROVIDE A STRATEGY FOR GRASS-BASED RUMINANT AGRICULTURE TO HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND HABITAT DECLINE.