Center for Pollinators in Energy
Best practices for solar farm apiaries
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Beekeepers: get all the details about managing hives outside the fence of pollinator-friendly solar arrays.
Center for Pollinators in Energy
The Center for Pollinators in Energy: Solarama Crush Special
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Beer, bees, and honey from flowering solar farms—everybody loves it. See how an innovative approach to solar siting can help our hard working friends.
Renewable Electricity
Solar farms and the nation’s largest state fair
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With solar farms popping up throughout the region at an accelerating rate, this year’s Minnesota State Fair featured two exhibits on how solar farms make productive use of the land under and around the panels.
Renewable Electricity
Minnesota leads on solar for pollinators and crops
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2016 was the first year of Minnesota’s solar bloom — but there’s plenty more to come. While even more solar sites are planned to be built in the years ahead, tens of millions of native flowers and short-growing meadow grasses will be taking root under and around the panels. Look for black-eyed susans to develop faster than the rest, followed by purple prairie clover, partridge pea, butterfly weed, and more.
agriculture
Co-location of Solar and Agriculture Webinar
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The U.S. Department of Energy recently highlighted Fresh Energy’s work in pollinator friendly solar projects during a well-attended national webinar, “Co-location of Solar and Agriculture.” Watch the webinar.
Renewable Electricity
Electric Cooperatives Connecting Pollinator Conservation and Clean Energy
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“Butterflies, birds, and bees find a haven at Connexus” proclaimed the email recently sent to all members of Connexus Energy, Minnesota’s largest customer-owned electric cooperative. Connexus’ community solar garden hasn’t just been popular with its members — the site is also benefitting Minnesota’s bumblebees, honeybees, and foraging song birds — and is on the leading edge of a rapidly growing trend.