A research team from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found that insect levels have tripled in less than five years at two solar sites in southern Minnesota. Native grass and wildflowers were planted at the facilities, operated by Enel Green Power North America, in early 2018 and between August 2018 and 2022, the research group conducted 358 observational surveys of flowering vegetation and insect communities. They found total insect levels tripled, with native bees showing a 20-fold increase in numbers. The most commonly observed insect groups were beetles, flies and moths. The findings suggest that habitat-friendly solar sites could play a significant role in conserving biodiversity and mitigating land-use conflicts associated with the conversion of farmland for solar energy. However, additional research is needed to confirm the feasibility of habitat-neutral solar across different regions.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
