To achieve this, many solar projects are now integrating a vegetative management plan that features a mix of low-growing and shade tolerant, pollinator friendly plants throughout the array.
Land under and around solar arrays can be planted with pollinator-friendly vegetation: a benefit to agriculture, clean energy, bees and birds.
Pollinator-Friendly Planting Tips
Considering installing solar at your farm, home or business and want to be sure it's friendly to pollinators? Here's how to get started:
- Step 1: Contact a pollinator vegetation expert (see list below)
- Step 2: Make sure consultants use the VT Scorecard in their planning and budget to ensure that the site can be considered pollinator-friendly
- Step 3: Work with Vermont Suppliers for Native Plants and Seeds (PDF) to source pollinator-friendly seed mixes as well as shrubs and trees for screening around solar arrays. Refer to the following lists to identify appropriate species for your project: Vermont Bird and Pollinator-Friendly Perennials (PDF) and Vermont Bird and Pollinator-Friendly Shrubs (PDF).
- Step 4: Consider building in an annual assessment plan like this Sample Pollinator Survey Tool (PDF)
- Step 5: Once you’ve finished your pollinator seeding/plantings, send your completed scorecard to info@revermont.org, and post it on your own website to say you’ve joined the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiative!
- Step 6: We encourage you to share your vegetative management plans as resource materials for others on this website. Please send them to extweb@uvm.edu and we will share them below.
More Resources:
In the News
- REV members celebrate Pollinator Week and ecosystem benefits of solar (vtdigger.org, 6/25/21)
- With Bee the Change, Weybridge Couple Fills Solar Fields With Insect-Friendly Habitat (Seven Days, 6/22/21)
- National Geographic, Organic Valley, and Perdue Farms commit to standards-based pollinator-friendly solar arrays
- Modern Farmer, Martha Stewart, and National Geographic magazines highlight the opportunity for beekeepers to support solar and benefit from healthy foraging sites for their hives.
- Solar Farm Creates Quite the Buzz: Pollinators Flock to Colorful Crop (Addison Independent, 8/28/17)
- Beekeepers Sweeten Solar Sites with Their "Tesla of Honey" (National Geographic, 6/24/17)
- Solar Energy Made ‘Sweet’ at Connexus (YouTube)
- The Business Case for Pollinator Friendly Solar (Green Biz, 5/15/17)
- Solar Array Abuzz Thanks to Pollinator Friendly Vegetation (Solar Power World, 5/1/17)
- Can Solar Sites Help Save Bees? (Bee Culture, 7/25/16)
What's Your Pollinator-Friendly Score?
The Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiative of Vermont has developed a Scorecard for developers to determine how friendly their solar installations can be. These voluntary standards, developed by Vermont experts, draw on the successful MN model that has generated exponential growth in pollinator friendly solar Got a great score? Post the completed form on your website and let's spread the word!
Take the Pledge
By taking the Pollinatory-Friendly Pledge, you are committing to meeting the standards outlined in the Scorecard.
Download the Guide to Solar Energy in Vermont's Working Landscape
With support from an Apis Fund Award from the Gund Institute for Environment, this guide provides an overview to the integration of solar energy and complementary land use practices in Vermont. Contributing researchers and practitioners cover topics including management practices, project planning, personal experiences, and policy recommendations. Learn directly from those working in this emerging and rapidly evolving field! Download the PDF file here.
List of Participating Consultants
Arrowwood Environmental
Expertise on pollinator-friendly seed mixes and vegetative management plans
950 Bert White Road, Huntington, VT 05462
802-434-7276 x2
Michael Lew-Smith | michael@arrowwoodvt.com |
Audubon Vermont
Green Mountain Audubon Center
255 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington, VT
Mark LaBarr | MLaBARR@audubon.org | 802-434-3068
Margaret Fowle | mflwle@audubon.org | 802-434-3068
Bee the Change
Expertise on pollinator-friendly seed mixes and vegetative management plans
800 Sheep Farm Rd., Weybridge, VT 05653
802-349-2741
Mike Kiernan | mtleki@gmail.com
Interdisciplinary landscape planning and design firm with expertise creating pollinator habitat establishment and management plans for solar arrays as well as designing custom seed mixes
160 George Lamb Road, Leyden, MA 01337
646-244-8380
Evan Abramson | evan@landscapeinteractions.com
SE Group
Expertise on pollinator-friendly seed mixes and vegetative management plans
131 Church St., Suite 300, Burlington, VT 05401
802-862-0098
The Solar Honey Company / Bolton Bees
Expertise on beekeeping under solar arrays and providers of national Solar Honey Standard certification
Chiara Bolton | boltonbees@gmail.com
As seen in National Geographic: "The Tesla of Honey"
VHB
40 IDX Drive, Building 100, Suite 200, South Burlington, VT 05403
802-487-6100
Carla Fenner | cfenner@vhb.com | 802-497-6144
Adam Crary | acrary@vhb.com | 802-497-6101
Want to see your name on this list? Complete the VT Scorecard and email it to info@revermont.org.
To view projects' completed scorecards, contact info@revermont.org.
Solar Projects Using Pollinator-Friendly Methods
Many solar projects in Vermont are already participating in the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiative. Those below have completed the scorecard or have pledged to join the effort.
New Sites Incorporating Pollinators from the Beginning
Encore Renewables - Bee the Change
- Middlebury - Meadow Glen Solar, LLC 500kw (4 acres)
- Middlebury - additional site - 500kw (4 acres)
Grassroots Solar
- Dorset (with teaching workshops)
- Pawlett (with teaching workshops)
Green Lantern Group - Bee the Change
- New Haven, 500kw (4 acres)
GroSolar - GMP, ArrowWood, SE Group
- Williston, 4.7MW-AC (25-30 acres)
- Richmond, 2.0MW-AC (10-12 acres)
- Hartford, 4.99MW-AC (25-30 acres)
- Panton, 4.9MW-AC (single-axis tracker) (25-30 acres)
- Williamstown, 4.99MW-AC (25-30 acres)
Retrofits of Existing Sites
All-Earth Renewables - Bee the Change
- Burlington, Rock Point School, 142kw (1 acre)
Ben & Jerry's
- Waterbury, 500kw (4 acres)
Mont Vert - Bee the Change
- Proctor, 66kw (0.5 acres)
Soveren Solar - VSECU Project
- Guilford, 500kw (4 acres)
Vermont Community Solar - Brattleboro Management Company
- Kirchheiemr Drive Community Solar, LLC, Bee the Change
- Guilford, 500kw (3.1 acres, half for planting)
Want to see your name on this list? Complete the VT Scorecard and email it to info@revermont.org.
More Resources
- New England Sample Pollinator Seed Mix – Xerces (PDF)
- Bird-Friendly Plants for Solar Screening - Audubon
- Beekeping Resources
- Vegetative Management Plans
- Sample Vegetative Management Plan (PDF)
- If you'd like to share your vegetative management plan here, send to extweb@uvm.edu.
The Scorecard was produced by the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiative of Vermont:
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. Any reference to commercial products, trade names, or brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended.
Many thanks to Bee the Change and Fresh-Energy for use of their imagery.
New in February 2021! A Guide to Solar Energy in Vermont's Working Landscape (pdf download)
Solar Energy in Vermont's Working Landscape, September 2020 Workshop (YouTube playlist)
Fresh Energy leads the creation of a national pollinator-friendly solar clearinghouse: Center for Pollinators and Energy
Bright Idea: Kiernan Pairs Solar Arrays and Bees, Addison Independent:
Can Solar Plants Make Good Bird Habitat? (Audubon)
This New [Oregon] Solar Farm Combines Clean Energy and Beehives:
Pollinator-Friendly Solar in MN -
presentation by Rob Davis, Fresh Energy (PDF)
