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.
Clean Electricity
Energy Matters Autumn 2016
Read the Autumn 2016 issue of Energy Matters- Fresh Energy’s print journal.
May 10 | Positively Electric: Embracing clean electricity to power more of our economy
With Minnesota’s electricity mix becoming cleaner and less expensive – and oil and gas becoming dirtier, riskier and more costly – is it time to transition to a more electric economy? Fresh Energy thinks the answer is a resounding yes. We think it’s time to start putting electricity from the wind, the sun, and other local clean power sources into more of Minnesota’s economy.
Electric Cooperatives Connecting Pollinator Conservation and Clean Energy
“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.
188-2: Minnesota Sets Standard for Land Use on Solar Sites
Authored by agriculture leaders, a new law sends a clear signal to the solar industry regarding a preferred practice for use of land on solar sites. State-wide standard will meaningfully help Minnesota’s bees, monarchs, pheasants, and songbirds, by providing abundant, high-quality foraging habitat on solar sites.
Soil, Crop, & Storm Water Benefits of Solar Sites
When investing $1-$2 million per acre in solar panels, one tends to focus on the benefits directly generated by the new hardware — 100% fuel-free energy with no moving parts. However—simply by using the right seed mix—each of these sites can also provide significant agricultural benefits related to storm water, soil, and crop pollination.
