ForeFront Power and the City of Ames, Iowa, were finalists in the 2025 Northern American Agrivoltaics Awards’ (NAAA) "Solar Ranch of the Year" category for their innovative SunSmart Ames community solar project. The NAAA award recognizes excellence in "dual-use" development pairing solar energy infrastructure with agriculture, also known as "agrivoltaics." Previously, SunSmart Ames was nominated Environment + Energy Leader’s "Top Project of the Year" in 2021.

SunSmart Ames is a 2 MW DC community solar project developed by ForeFront Power. Each year it produces enough electricity to power 440 homes, offset 113 million car miles, and reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by about 57,000 tons.

The project incorporates agrivoltaics through regenerative sheep grazing. Working with local organization Sheep on the Go, ForeFront Power employs a herd of sheep to manage vegetation, enrich soil health, and support biodiversity. Over 50 sheep seasonally graze the site to reduce maintenance needs while coexisting safely with solar energy infrastructure.

This community solar project also prioritizes renewable energy access, enabling residents who are unable to install solar panels on their own homes to purchase shares of clean energy through “Power Packs.” The Power Packs give residents monthly credits on their utility bills, and can also be donated to local churches and other community organizations, establishing a new kind of community currency.

From environmental stewardship and smart land use to community inclusion and educational value, SunSmart Ames is a blueprint for how cities can embrace dual-use development to enrich the lives of their residents while contributing to a more sustainable future through reduced carbon emissions.

The 2025 NAAA award finalists were recognized at the 2025 Solar Farm Summit, where ForeFront Power also participated in a panel discussion on dual-use development. The arrival of the sheep to the solar project was covered by the Ames Tribune in 2024, and the City of Ames and ForeFront Power followed up with an open house event in for the general public in 2025.