{"id":272911,"date":"2023-08-23T22:44:22","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T22:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/?page_id=272911"},"modified":"2024-04-12T20:43:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T20:43:17","slug":"biodiversity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/responsible-solar\/environment\/biodiversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Boosting biodiversity at solar farms"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our commitment to biodiversity and habitat conservation<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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The World Wildlife Fund<\/span><\/span><\/a> reports that North America has seen a 33% drop in overall biodiversity since 1970, with even greater losses globally. <\/span><\/span> Our environment, our lives and our livelihoods are at risk.<\/p>\n

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the most critical, intertwined issues our planet is facing. As part of our Responsible Solar ethos<\/strong><\/a>, our goal is to demonstrate a biodiversity increase (net biodiversity gain) at our solar farms within 5 years post construction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n

\n Our Biodiversity Net Gain framework<\/span> <\/svg><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Creating and preserving habitat under and around the solar panels<\/h2>\n

Solar farms inherently lend themselves to habitat enhancement and conservation initiatives– studies have shown solar farms can majorly increasing biodiversity<\/a> on previously disturbed land in just a few years with the use of pollinator-friendly seed mixes. Lightsource bp\u2019s goal is to increase biodiversity at our solar projects, creating habitat for a variety and abundance of species under and around the solar panels. We create a detailed vegetation plan in partnership with local and regional seed suppliers, conservationists, certified crop advisors and agronomists. A typical mix of plant species at an established Lightsource bp solar farm will include numerous species of grasses and flowers.<\/p>\n

We carefully curate customized seed mixes and other vegetation so that our solar farms can serve as safe, supportive homes for beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife under our biodiversity framework. The durability and diversity of the plant species selected are weighed with other important factors, such as stormwater absorption and soil health. We look to support habitat creation, agricultural use, soil stabilization, carbon capture and resilience.\u00a0We actively monitor and measure net biodiversity gain based on scoring systems developed by international conservation groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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11 Jun, 2024<\/p>\n \n

Preserving habitat and integrating agriculture at Impact Solar, three years in<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Habitat enhancement & agrivoltaics in Texas<\/p>\n

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Declining pollinator populations threaten our global food supply. Solar farms can help!<\/h2>\n

Pollinators such as butterflies, bees, birds and bats support plant reproduction and reinforce strong resilient ecosystems. Three-fourths of the world\u2019s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world\u2019s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce<\/strong><\/a>, according to the USDA. Some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, pollinator populations are declining.\u00a0Scientists believe<\/strong><\/a> that loss of habitat for feeding and nesting is a primary cause. Every acre of pollinator habitat created and conserved makes a big difference in supporting these crucial species. According to a 5-year study from Argonne National Laboratory,<\/a> solar farms with habitat restoration can significantly boost populations of pollinator insects on the land, with native bees showing a 20-fold increase on their test sites. They also found that the insects visited nearby crop fields, making neighboring farmland more productive! <\/a>\u00a0The researches concluded that these findings “provide support for solar-pollinator habitat as a feasible conservation practice to safeguard biodiversity and increase food security in agricultural landscapes.”<\/p>\n

To help mitigate this loss of pollinators, Lightsource bp is creating and managing vegetation to support pollinator populations at many of our solar farms. There is large potential for co-located pollinator habitat to deliver ecosystem and agricultural benefits on solar farms \u2013 yielding benefits for a range of stakeholders, from solar developers to farmers to surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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03 Sep, 2024<\/p>\n \n

Solar Synergy in Indiana: Our Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund partnership at Honeysuckle Solar<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Partnership for pollinator conservation<\/p>\n

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07 Feb, 2023<\/p>\n \n

Solar farm, safe haven: Monarch butterflies to find crucial habitat at Conway Solar<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership<\/p>\n

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13 Apr, 2023<\/p>\n \n

Researching the benefits of pollinator conservation at Bellflower Solar<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Habitat enhancement in Indiana<\/p>\n

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