{"id":273450,"date":"2026-02-08T07:17:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T07:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/273450\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T07:17:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T07:17:28","slug":"a-rare-plant-species-thrives-amid-solar-panels-in-the","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/273450\/","title":{"rendered":"A rare plant species thrives amid solar panels in the\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Minnesota, at least, the answer is yes. Walston led a\u00a0study of two solar sites<\/a> on converted cropland there, observing the growth of biodiversity over the course of five years. The researchers found that the number of unique flowering plant species increased sevenfold, and the abundance of insect pollinators tripled. Native bees alone increased by 20 times. In a follow-on study across a\u00a0dozen solar sites<\/a>, grassland birds flocked to the areas, likely attracted by the abundance of insects \u2014 same goes for bats<\/a>. Birds could also nest among the panels, hiding from predators. \u200b\u201cWe\u2019ve seen positive outcomes, sort of across the board,\u201d Walston said. \u200b\u201cAnytime that you\u2019re seeing increases in insect prey, you\u2019ve got at least a\u00a0really strong potential for also seeing greater bird activity and bat activity, as they are attracted to those\u00a0sites.\u201d<\/p>\n

Such a\u00a0significant boost to biodiversity is not a\u00a0given, though. Certain plant species will need more or less shade from the panels: In the Mojave, Pereira found only one threecorner milkvetch, for example, growing directly under a\u00a0panel. The rest were popping up in the sunnier spaces between them. Young plants of other species, by contrast, might prefer shadier spots, because too much sunlight can stress them.<\/p>\n

Panel height is a\u00a0major factor, too: Taller ones let bigger plant species grow to their full potential \u2014 but the higher the supports, the more a\u00a0solar company must spend on materials. A\u00a0facility might also set a\u00a0specific height to accommodate livestock like sheep and goats, used for \u200b\u201cconservation grazing\u201d to clear out invasive weeds, which in turn reduces the fire risk of dead plants. \u200b\u201cWe\u2019re trying to work with developers,\u201d Walston said, \u200b\u201cto say, \u200b\u2018OK, well, if all you can do is 2\u00a0feet, what might be the best mix of seed mixes and management styles that could really optimize the habitat?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That mowing might sound destructive, but it mimics the natural order of things, as grazers like deer and buffalo, in addition to wildfires, have historically served the same purpose. Ecovoltaics can also return former agricultural fields to more of their natural state. \u200b\u201cI think there is real potential for solar farms to be especially good for biodiversity in prairie ecosystems, since prairies evolved over time to require repeated disturbance,\u201d said Johanna Neumann, senior director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy at the nonprofit Environment America, who wasn\u2019t involved in the new research.<\/p>\n

The blade-and-grade alternative, on the other hand, doesn\u2019t just disrupt a\u00a0habitat. With native plant species cleared out, the earth loses the root structures that keep soils from blowing away. Then, opportunistic and fast-growing invasive species can take over, muscling out the natives. And their flowers might not be as enticing for indigenous pollinators, like bumblebees.<\/p>\n

Just as endemic plants can grow among solar panels, so too can crops, a\u00a0technique known as agrivoltaics. Researchers are finding, for example, that things like cucumbers grow like crazy on rooftops<\/a>. The panels create a\u00a0unique microclimate that keeps crops from getting too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, and uses about one-third of the water compared with growing in full sun. Now, scientists are trying to figure out which crops \u2014 especially high-value ones that can make up the cost of installing solar \u2014 will do the best growing under panels, both on rooftops and on the ground. \u200b\u201cIf you\u2019re going to grow something, you want to grow something that a\u00a0potential farmer could sell for decent profit,\u201d said horticulturist Jennifer Bousselot, who studies rooftop agrivoltaics at Colorado State University but wasn\u2019t involved in the new paper. \u200b\u201cYou name the crop, and there\u2019s interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

All told, ecovoltaics and agrivoltaics have the potential to bolster biodiversity and the food supply while generating clean electricity. \u200b\u201cRather than a\u00a0moonscape of invasive species and dust blowing into cities, why not strive for something better?\u201d Pereira said. \u200b\u201cIt\u2019s a\u00a0wild and beautiful place that we live in, and it\u2019s our job to look out for these species as\u00a0well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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