At the intersection of innovation and conservation, a remarkable partnership is taking flight—literally. EDP Renewables North America, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center have teamed up in Milam County, Texas, to give two orphaned barn owls a second chance at life—while contributing to a healthier ecosystem at the Cattlemen Solar Park.
After spending 97 days in rehabilitation at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, the barn owls were released at the utility-scale solar site developed by EDP Renewables and built by McCarthy. There, these owls will serve a natural, nontoxic role in controlling rodent populations across the expansive solar project area. With each owl capable of consuming up to 1,000 rodents annually, their presence provides an eco-friendly solution to a common challenge on job sites—while eliminating the need for chemical pest control.
This is more than a conservation story. It’s a powerful example of how renewable energy development and wildlife stewardship can go hand-in-wing. By welcoming these raptors into a new habitat, EDP Renewables and McCarthy are showcasing how utility-scale solar projects can support biodiversity and promote balanced ecosystems.
We celebrate this thoughtful and groundbreaking collaboration and thank EDP Renewables, McCarthy Building Companies, and the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center for demonstrating that sustainability and stewardship go hand in hand. From reducing carbon emissions to protecting native species, the clean energy transition is about more than electrons—it’s about building a better, more balanced world.
