Solar Farms: a Safe Haven For Pollinators?

You might not notice them much–you might even be a little scared of them–but we rely on bees for our food every day. By spreading pollen from one flower to another, bees and other pollinators are essential to the growth of about one third of the food we eat. Apples, soybeans, avocados, cherries, almonds, cranberries, blueberries, cucumbers, broccoli…you name it. They all rely on pollinators, and bees are by far the best pollinator on the planet.

If that wasn’t enough, bees create honey, which, aside from being a brilliant addition to a piece of toast in the morning, accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars in sales in the U.S. alone.

Pollinator-friendly solar farms are a bright new trend for bees. Since solar developers around the country are realizing that plants and flowers can thrive on solar farms, many of them are taking advantage to give bees a safe home. In fact, businesses like Ernst Pollinator Service and Prairie Restorations exist to bring solar farms up to pollinator standards. More pollinators also intersect neatly with grazing animals: healthy pollinators help grow food that feeds the sheep on a solar farm.

Solar farms provide a stable home for pollinators. Once completed, a solar farm will typically stay for at least 20-30 years with no new development. No parking lots coming in, no big renovations or overhauls. No pesticides, either, which are one of the biggest threats to bee populations. Just solar panels, grass, and flowers.