In Minnesota, the sun is also good for bees

Four solar panels in a green field, two sheep grazing among the plants and flowers, two beehives, and a smiling technician who seems to be taking care of them. It’s a Lego set inspired by a scene that frequently takes place on the Aurora Solar Farm in Albany, Minnesota. This power plant has been operational since 2017 and is made up of sixteen different sites that provide electricity to 17,000 families. It was created with a dual purpose: to generate power, of course, but also to be of service to the ecosystem. Several species of native plants have been encouraged to grow underneath the solar panels, attracting bees and other pollinators. Not only do the plants prevent soil erosion with their roots, but they also improve the quality of the water table and provide nourishment to grazing sheep. This way, thanks in part to our collaboration with the ecological restoration company Minnesota Native Landscapes, we can save on mowing costs and livestock farmers can herd their flock over a wide area. Sheep also contribute to the vegetation’s growth by trampling seeds into the ground, and their grazing is also safer than using mechanical lawnmowers, which could dig up rocks and damage the equipment. It also eliminates the use of herbicides. Improving the habitat And then there are the bees. Today the existence of these insects, which are our planet’s main pollinators, is threatened by various causes, including the loss of their natural habitat. According to the Department of Agriculture, the number of bee colonies in the United States has been reduced by more than half: from 6 million in 1947 to 2.8 million in 2019. When we started developing this solar farm, we asked ourselves what the best way would be to protect the surrounding ecosystem and support the presence of bees and other insects. So, we planted local varieties of plants that pollinators enjoy, but that are also useful to birds and other animal species. We also adopted a lighting system that sheds only minimal light at night thanks to retrofitted LEDs that limit light pollution, so as not to disturb insects and other animals, as requested by the local farmers. The importance of collaboration As part of our commitment to the bees, we began a collaboration with Bare Honey, a local company that not only makes honey but is also specialized in setting up bee colonies near solar plants. We also partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which has adopted a specific program called InSPIRE to identify the best habitats for insects and pollinators. And we work with Monarch joint venture and Iowa State University, the Pollinator Friendly Alliance, to bring about the solar farm to table. “The ‘Promoting Pollinator Health at Aurora Solar’ project was created to focus specifically on the decline of pollinators in North America and to analyze the habitat available in solar farms, since we have a thousand acres (over 400 hectares) of vegetation,” said Jacob Fehlen, Head of Operation Area Solar and BESS USA & Canada. “It offered us a great opportunity to use these areas for a habitat, not only for pollinators but for all animal species that can live and coexist there. So, we benefit from the energy production and from developing a healthy environment, while also encouraging the soil’s improvement in agricultural areas.” The Bare Honey team installed numerous beehives around the power plant which produce organic honey; they also teach their clients how to protect the bees’ habitat. This “solar-powered” honey is sold to restaurants, distilleries and breweries. For instance, First Magnitude Brewing (based in Florida) used this honey to create a special beer called “Honey Bee Citrus Blonde Ale,” which was served during the International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World: a way to toast to the health of bees, which is also our own.

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In Minnesota, the sun is also good for bees

In Minnesota, the sun is also good for bees

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