Por Andrea Giampoli, Vice President, Environmental Compliance and Strategy and Rob Schultz, Senior Associate, Vegetation Management
Feb 25, 2025
líneas eléctricas
What’s missing in the discussion of solar ecosystem solutions
Por Andrea Giampoli, Vice President, Environmental Compliance and Strategy and Rob Schultz, Senior Associate, Vegetation Management
We’ve been encouraged to see recent reporting in mainstream media about pollinator-friendly vegetation solutions at solar energy facilities. This is an important topic: solar energy development presents a unique opportunity to restore soil health, improve species and ecosystem biodiversity – providing long-term environmental benefits. However, while it is encouraging to see a focus on any aspect of solar ecosystem services – the narrative neglects to reference the most critical, and often overlooked, step. When it comes to large-scale solar projects, those spanning hundreds of acres or more, the focus must first be on establishing a foundation of resilient, desirable vegetation that will support, and not outcompete, the proliferation of pollinator-friendly and other beneficial species.
Much of the discussion around pollinator habitat focuses on smaller solar projects, like community solar gardens or distributed projects. These projects, often covering less than one hundred acres, have shorter construction timelines and less soil disturbance, making it easier and less costly to integrate and maintain pollinator-friendly plantings. Smaller projects can also be designed to accommodate project equipment modifications to support more traditional pollinator habitat.
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels requires rapid deployment of large-scale solar projects – which must remain cost competitive for a limited number of public utility contracts. These projects require a different and more comprehensive vegetation management strategy. Since native pollinator species often take several growing seasons to establish, large-scale projects must initially focus on quickly creating the foundation of successful solar revegetation.
As Dr. Hernandez says in the New York Times article, this industry is still within its infancy and working to do better. That “better” starts with what we are doing here at Invenergy. We follow a science-based approach to revegetation at our large-scale solar facilities. Our industry-leading vegetation management team, composed of experts from across the country, develops seed mixes tailored to site-specific soils and regional climates, selects species that can withstand construction and operational stress, and ensures long-term viability through careful planning and adaptive management. Successful revegetation is not as simple as scattering a seed mix on the ground and hoping for the best. It requires comprehensive planning: preparing the soil, planting at the right time and depth, managing weed competition, and maintaining vegetation to support healthy establishment. And all this has to be achieved at an active construction site. Even with the best-laid plans, adaptive management is crucial, and a foundational vegetation management approach needs to be nimble and able to adjust as conditions change.
Establishing the right vegetation early creates a ripple effect, benefiting all groups invested in the project.
First, it protects the landowner’s valuable topsoil, preserving the resource they have nurtured for decades.
Second, it reassures the surrounding community by minimizing erosion, controlling weeds, and maintaining a perennial vegetative cover, even during construction.
Third, positive outcomes for landowners and communities build local regulatory confidence, making future projects more viable.
Fourth, an early vegetation-focused approach helps developers stay within budget by reducing unexpected costs.
Fifth, it ensures smooth operations for the project owner, with a matured vegetative stand, closed-out permits, and significantly lower restoration and maintenance costs. Finally, it sets the necessary foundation for future stacked benefits, such as improved soil health, better downstream water quality, and pollinator-friendly plantings.
The bottom line: Pollinators and ecosystem services are invaluable, but with the rapid expansion of utility-scale solar needed, and oversight of the most critical foundational step, we risk losing the opportunity to integrate them effectively. The focus right now must be on strategic planning and proper establishment of vegetation – because if we don’t lay the groundwork today, we may never retain the chance to maximize these critical benefits for years to come.