At a recent Solar Energy Industries Association conference in Savannah, Georgia, soil scientist Christina Hebb highlighted novel strategies for enhancing sustainability in solar farms. By incorporating native flowers and crops beneath solar panels, developers can support local ecosystems, promote pollinator habitats, and even improve agricultural yields for nearby farms. Hebb, who works for McCarthy Building Companies, underscored the importance of preserving soil health throughout the construction process to ensure that these sustainable practices can succeed long-term.
As solar farms expand across the U.S., there is a growing focus on making them more environmentally friendly. During her speech, Hebb illustrated how planting flowering plants enhances the attractiveness of solar sites while fostering beneficial habitats for pollinators, which can result in better produce for adjacent farmland. This shift in approach signifies that many developers are now understanding that healthy soil is essential for both ecological sustainability and the longevity of solar projects.
Hebb’s insights reflect broader trends in the industry. Developers are now exploring various methods to manage the land beneath solar installations, such as planting low-growing grasses for sheep grazing to control vegetation and even introducing barn owls to help manage pests. In particular, agrivoltaics—growing crops below solar panels—have been shown to yield positive results in states like Arizona and Colorado, where farmers report improved crop performance and reduced water requirements due to the shade the panels provide.
However, there is room for improvement in soil management practices before construction begins. According to Hebb, protecting the topsoil is critical. The delicate layer, which sustains most plant life, can be quickly compromised by construction activities, leading to long-term health issues for the soil. Developers often fail to preserve this vital resource during land preparation, so Hebb advocates for the meticulous mapping and storage of topsoil for reapplication after project completion.
While some states, like New Jersey and Virginia, have begun to implement regulations requiring the preservation of topsoil and responsible land management during solar farm development, many practices remain voluntary across the industry. These voluntary initiatives often arise from companies’ sustainability goals or local collaborations rather than legislative mandates.
At the conference, Amanda Pankau, a director at the conservation group Prairie Rivers Network, emphasized the importance of land stewardship in the context of solar energy. She pointed out the historic challenges in Illinois, where agricultural practices have significantly eroded the state’s rich soils. Pankau is hopeful that the presence of solar developments can help mitigate these issues and create a more sustainable future for land use.
She acknowledged that while some rural communities may view solar farms as a potential threat to agricultural lands, these projects could serve as a temporary use of land until they can be returned to farming. In Illinois, regulations exist to guide solar project developers on managing soil and agricultural impacts, yet Pankau believes that continued efforts are necessary to enhance these regulations and improve soil health.
This dialogue at the Solar Energy Conference reflects the growing recognition within the industry of the potential for solar projects to positively influence soil health and local biodiversity when managed effectively, setting a path for a more sustainable energy landscape.