Solar Energy, Pollinators, and Restoration Initiative
More and more solar energy installations are being planted with pollinator habitat, providing refuge for pollinators among urban and agricultural corridors. Establishing diverse communities of native plants at solar installations can provide habitat for bees and butterflies, as well as diversified revenue for farmers and pollination services for crops. However, establishing native vegetation isn’t always easy, especially at large solar sites where extensive weed management is often required.
The Understory Initiative is partnering with the NRCS and Pine Gate Renewables to explore innovative, efficient ways of establishing native plants for pollinator habitat under solar arrays.
This year, we’ll be testing a method of using activated charcoal banding to protect native seeds from low-toxicity pre-emergent herbicides, which are typically used to alleviate weed pressure. If it works, this method could be used for native plant restoration in a variety of wild and managed ecosystems.
In an effort to eliminate cost barriers to large-scale pollinator habitat restoration, we developed a revegetation technique which involves “safening” native seed mixes using activated carbon. To administer this technique, a drill seeder (farming implement used to sow and cover seed) is modified to deposit bands of activated carbon (AC) above seed furrows. This activated carbon then protects the drilled seed mix from pre-emergent herbicide applied immediately after seeding, allowing site preparation and seeding to be completed in a single visit.
Students from the Oregon Institute for Technology examine pollinating insects, such as this queen bumble bee, visiting native plants at the Woodline Solar Plant.
Students from Oregon Institute of Technology gather to learn about native plant restoration.