OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR POLLINATOR HABITAT ON SOLAR FARMS

Rei Scampavia; WRA, Inc.; scampavia@wra-ca.com;

As legislators and the public demand renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuel use, the footprint of solar farms is on the rise nationwide. Solar energy is often considered to be a "green infrastructure." However, historic management of the lands beneath solar panel arrays has not focused on providing ecological value. Efforts to design and monitor pollinator habitat in conjunction with solar arrays has been increasing in popularity throughout the U.S., and multiple states have enacted legislation to promote pollinator-friendly habitat on solar farms. In 2020, Marin Clean Energy (MCE) became the first power purchaser in California to enact a pollinator habitat program. Participating solar farms must plant pollinator habitat, which is monitored and scored for three years following installation. In addition to providing habitat for pollinators and other invertebrates, properly managed pollinator habitat can also improve water quality, decrease erosion, and provide ecological value for other native wildlife. Concerns around the physical properties of arrays, as well as fire safety and pest control, impose unique restrictions upon habitat design and management. This presentation focuses on opportunities for and potential benefits of pollinator-friendly habitat on solar farms, as well as challenges related to design and monitoring of habitat.

Ecology and Conservation of Invertebrates