When you see a solar farm, what comes to mind? Likely solar energy or sustainable energy harvested by the sun. This makes sense because every day, these farms are silently generating substantial solar energy to feed your local electric grid. But these solar sites are far from quiet- solar farms are homes to more than just a field of panels! Solar farms are also ideal environments for grazing farm animals, cultivating pollinator gardens, and even growing crops.

Solar Grazing🐑

One collaborative way to utilize this land is through solar grazing, a partnership with local farmers. Livestock such as sheep feed on the grass around these sites, keeping the grass from growing too tall and blocking the sun, while providing a space for farmers to graze their animals. Nautilus Solar Energy® is the proud sponsor of the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), a farmer-founded and led organization that supports solar grazing with over 1000 members across 45 states. In this field, work is being done to develop standards that simultaneously support both solar developers and shepherds.

In the fall of 2024, the ASGA released the first-ever solar grazing documentary! Check out the trailer for this documentary film that showcases solar grazing through the stories of two farmers. We encourage you to learn more about the benefits solar grazing provides to farmers.

Pollinator Habitats🌻

The best time of the year is when our farms are in full bloom and buzzing with life! During the summer and fall seasons, solar farms transform into safe havens for a variety of bees, butterflies, and insects. These are also places for native wildflowers and plants to grow around solar panels, enhancing local biodiversity. For nearby farmland, these pollinators can lead to enhanced agricultural production and are critical to the health of native plant growth.

To learn more about solar pollinator gardens, check out this interesting article published by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Repurposing Degraded Land

Many of our solar farms are constructed on land that is degraded or unusable, such as old landfills, toxic waste sites, and mines. For example, we operate the Altamont Solar Farm in New York, built on an old army depot that was in use from 1941 to 1969.

This land was virtually unusable due to years of toxic contaminants in the soil. But, with the implementation of above ground solar, we can still use this land to generate sustainable energy for the local grid. So, instead of leaving an old landfill lifeless, we can set up panels, which allows a place of forgotten and unusable land contribute back to the local energy grid.

Agrivoltaics🌱

In recent years, agrivoltaics have also been significant when discussing solar power. Farmers can benefit from growing crops under and between rows of solar panels, helping crops and life in the solar farm thrive. Hidden under the panels, plants can benefit from reduced water evaporation during the summer months and improved annual crop production while using less water.

Agrivoltaics is a way to maximize large plots of land, which both agricultural and solar energy industries need to successfully harvest crops and the sun.

For more information on agrivoltaics, check out this article published by the U.S Department of Energy.

All in all, solar power is about more than just solar panels. This is a way to sustainably contribute to the grid, agriculture, and local biodiversity. Solar farms are safe havens for farm animals, crops, and pollinators, while still producing lots of energy for your local electric grid.

By signing up for a subscription at Nautilus Community Solar, you are contributing not just to the generation of sustainable energy in your local community but also to the protection and responsible use of land resources in your area.

If you are interested in learning more about community solar, check out how you can contribute to sustainable solar power development in your community while also saving money on your electric bill.

Ready to become part of the Nautilus Solar community? Enroll today!