Transcript:
Fields of solar panels are popping up across the U.S., and they can provide more than just clean energy.
Grinstead: “If we design them thoughtfully with pollinator-friendly plants, instead of like a traditional turf grass or gravel, those sites can really do double duty as a restored habitat.”
Andy Grinstead of the Pollinator Partnership says bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are critical for the health of ecosystems – and the survival of food crops.
But a lot of pollinator habitat has been destroyed.
So his group helps landowners and solar developers create new pollinator habitat under and around solar panels.
A diverse mix of plants helps attract different species.
Grinstead: “For example, milkweed is an essential host plant for monarch butterflies. There’s cone flowers and bee balm that provide nectar and nesting habitat for bees. There’s goldenrods … that bloom late into the season when food is scarce and pollinators really need it.”
Deep-rooted native plants also help the soil absorb more water, reducing runoff and erosion.
And though establishing pollinator habitat costs more up front than planting grass, Grinstead says it can save money over time on mowing and maintenance.
So there are many benefits to transforming the ground around solar panels into habitat buzzing with life.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
