Minnesota Solar Farms Become Havens for Bees and Wildflowers

Researchers in Minnesota stopped mowing grass at two large solar farms starting in 2018 and instead seeded the land with native plants to attract pollinators. The farms, previously farmland intensely cultivated and treated with herbicides, saw a dramatic increase in plant and insect diversity. Scientists from Argonne National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory tracked the land from 2018 to August 2022, noting initial slow growth that accelerated over time.

The team observed a tripling of overall insect numbers and a twentyfold increase in local bee populations. Beetles, flies, and moths also flourished on the land.

This approach not only benefits biodiversity but also extends to neighboring farmland, as pollinators from the solar farms visited soybean fields, increasing crop pollination. The findings suggest a potential model for integrating renewable energy development with ecological restoration.