Goats

Greta Thunberg says we’re going under water. The FaceBook whistleblower warns we’re going crazy. Jordan Peterson laments that we’re going soft. Those opinions, however, are all up for debate. Here’s one thing that’s not: We are going electric. 

Look no further than what’s happening in California, the world’s second largest economy after China. Electric vehicles are now the state’s largest export. At the same time, new building requirements are expected to boost all electric buildings in the state from 5% to 50% this decade. 

The electrification of our economy, especially the transportation economy, will cut our emissions. However, this shift is also bound to put new strain on our already wobbly grid. To transition to electricity without compromising reliability, we must conserve energy. Demand response, smart technologies and the likes are discussed at nauseum on this forum. Today, reading through my power feed, I came across a novel and highly creative power saving tool: Goats. 

That’s right, there’s at least one community in the country that’s already using the livestock to mow their lawns. The community I’m referring to is Geos, Colorado. Goats have been one of the energy saving tools that have allowed Geos to be emissions free since the town’s founding in 2008. 

It might seem a bit goofy, but when you really start thinking about it, it makes more and more sense. Mowing the lawn is a chore few want to do or pay for. Traditional gas lawn mowers are loud and dirty. New electric ones are silent, but, of course, they tax our grid. Goats it is.