Presented By: Dan Salas, University of Illinois Chicago; Laura Fox, Argonne National Lab; James McCall, National Renewable Energy Lab; Tristan Barley, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Lee Walston, Argonne National Lab; Ben Campbell, University of Illinois Chicago; Jordan Martin, National Renewable Energy Lab
Solar
The Monarch CCAA: Solar Energy – September 26, 2024
Solar energy is rapidly being deployed across the U.S. At the same time, many pollinator populations have sharply declined across North America. The upcoming federal listing decision for the monarch butterfly may affect not only site development but also ongoing operations and maintenance. The Monarch CCAA offers a potential solution.
If You Build It, Will They Come? Insect Community Responses to Habitat Establishment at Solar Energy Facilities in Minnesota, USA
This case study highlights the relatively rapid (<4 year) insect community responses to grassland restoration activities and provides support for solar-pollinator habitat as a feasible conservation practice to safeguard biodiversity and increase food security in agricultural landscapes.
Research Roundtable: Solar Power and Pollinators – November 10, 2021
The fourth webinar in our research roundtable series focuses on the latest research on co-locating pollinator habitat with solar technologies, including the ecological, agricultural, and performance benefits, and how solar scorecards are shaping this work.
Best Management Practices for the Monarch Butterfly in Oklahoma Rights-of-Way
This document, authored by the Rights-of-Way Work Group of the Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Collaborative, provides recommended Best Management Practices for monarch habitat on Oklahoma Industry Sector Rights-of-Way (ROW), including transportation ROWs, electric transmission ROWs, solar parks, oil and gas distribution lines, and rail corridors.
EPRI: Overview of Pollinator-Friendly Solar Energy
This Technical Brief provides a summary of the key considerations related to “pollinator-friendly solar,” including: site design, construction and maintenance; procurement of pollinator-friendly solar; and the business case. Sidebars cover honey bees on solar fields, brown fields to bright fields, and several specific power company case studies.
EPRI: Conservation Actions for Electric Power Companies to Support Monarch Butterflies
This report prepared by the Electric Power Research Institute and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation describes the conservation actions for monarch habitat protection, management, enhancement, and restoration that are compatible with the land use and management of electric power company properties. Conservation actions are mapped to the various land asset types to understand where the greatest monarch conservation potential exists.
North Carolina Technical Guidance for Native Plantings on Solar Sites
This technical guide developed by North Carolina Pollinator Conservation Alliance highlights healthy pollinator communities , solar farm site preparation and planting guidelines and the benefits of pollinator conservation activities.
Solar Site Pollinator Habitat Assessment Form
This tool developed by Minnesota Board of Water & Soil resources helps solar companies claim pollinator/wildlife habitat benefits on solar sites.
Michigan Pollinator Habitat Planning Scorecard for Solar Sites
This form was developed by the Michigan State University Department of Entomology to guide vegetation management at solar installations to make them more supportive for native pollinators. The tool helps determine whether the plans meet or exceed the minimum requirements.