Pollinators, people and the planet - win when renewable energy is done right Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois CHICAGO - As Illinois builds more renewable energy to support a climate in which people and wildlife can thrive, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois (TNC) is helping residents, business and local governments make smart decisions about where to construct new infrastructure while also creating pollinator safe- havens. "Illinois was once covered by vast prairie, but that's no longer the case," said Karen Petersen, TNC Illinois' Climate and Energy Program manager. "This thriving ecosystem has mostly been lost to agriculture and development, but we can reclaim a portion of our natural heritage by combining renewable energy projects with measures to support biodiversity and robust environmental benefits." In addition to attracting pollinators, native prairie plants improve soil and water quality and capture more carbon than turf grass. Photo Credit: Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative To increase such practices throughout the state, TNC and Pollinator Partnership created a guide, Greening the Clean Energy Transition: Smart Siting and Pollinator-Friendly Solar Energy in Illinois, that outlines how to choose the best sites to install solar arrays and how to enhance the surrounding habitat. Choosing already built sites, such as rooftops and parking lots, or contaminated sites, such as closed mines and landfills, reduces upfront risks to biodiversity by avoiding natural areas. Integrating pollinator plantings on these sites enhances long-term benefits for local communities and biodiversity. Restoring Illinois' prairie is critical to saving Photo Credit: Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative endangered pollinators such as the iconic monarch butterfly and the rusty-patch bumblebee, which face multiple threats, from habitat loss and climate change to pesticides and pathogens. Pollinator-friendly solar alone won't alleviate all threats to pollinators, but it is one tool that can be used to support pollinators as more solar installations begin to dot Illinois' landscape. Pollinator-friendly solar sites have multiple advantages over installations where traditional turf grass is planted. The deep roots of native prairie plants improve soil and water quality and capture more carbon. Plus, prairie plantings beautify solar sites, provide pollination and pest control to surrounding farms, and may even reduce the long-term costs of managing solar sites. Greening the Clean Energy Transition: Smart Siting and Pollinator-Friendly Solar Energy in Illinois, outlines how to choose the best sites to install solar arrays and how to enhance the surrounding habitat. Photo Credit: Scott Schiller In 2021, Illinois passed The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which seeks to move Illinois to entirely carbon-free power by 2050. The act paves the way for The new pollinator-friendly guide to solar installation the state to fight climate change by promoting clean, provides timely recommendations to shape decisions affordable energy. As CEJA sparks a rapid buildout about where renewables are placed and how sites are of renewables across the state, thoughtful siting managed. As the pivotal clean energy transition picks practices and the widespread uptake of pollinator- up speed in Illinois, thoughtful siting practices and the friendly plantings on solar sites are critical. widespread uptake of pollinator-friendly plantings on "With more and more solar projects in the queue and solar sites will be critical for securing the best benefits given that the average installation will last for 20 to 30 for nature, the climate and local communities. years, steps taken now to maximize the environmental For more information about how to adapt pollinator- and community benefits of these projects will friendly solar installations and to read the TNC and have lasting positive impacts," Petersen said. "It's Pollinator Partnership's guide, visit nature.org/ important to take advantage of win-win opportunities ILClimate to cut carbon pollution and protect nature." Pollinators , people and the planet - win when renewable energy is done right Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois CHICAGO - As Illinois builds more renewable energy to support a climate in which people and wildlife can thrive , The Nature Conservancy in Illinois ( TNC ) is helping residents , business and local governments make smart decisions about where to construct new infrastructure while also creating pollinator safe havens . " Illinois was once covered by vast prairie , but that's no longer the case , " said Karen Petersen , TNC Illinois ' Climate and Energy Program manager . " This thriving ecosystem has mostly been lost to agriculture and development , but we can reclaim a portion of our natural heritage by combining renewable energy projects with measures to support biodiversity and robust environmental benefits . " In addition to attracting pollinators , native prairie plants improve soil and water quality and capture more carbon than turf grass . Photo Credit : Jason Whalen / Fauna Creative To increase such practices throughout the state , TNC and Pollinator Partnership created a guide , Greening the Clean Energy Transition : Smart Siting and Pollinator - Friendly Solar Energy in Illinois , that outlines how to choose the best sites to install solar arrays and how to enhance the surrounding habitat . Choosing already built sites , such as rooftops and parking lots , or contaminated sites , such as closed mines and landfills , reduces upfront risks to biodiversity by avoiding natural areas . Integrating pollinator plantings on these sites enhances long - term benefits for local communities and biodiversity . Restoring Illinois ' prairie is critical to saving Photo Credit : Jason Whalen / Fauna Creative endangered pollinators such as the iconic monarch butterfly and the rusty - patch bumblebee , which face multiple threats , from habitat loss and climate change to pesticides and pathogens . Pollinator - friendly solar alone won't alleviate all threats to pollinators , but it is one tool that can be used to support pollinators as more solar installations begin to dot Illinois ' landscape . Pollinator - friendly solar sites have multiple advantages over installations where traditional turf grass is planted . The deep roots of native prairie plants improve soil and water quality and capture more carbon . Plus , prairie plantings beautify solar sites , provide pollination and pest control to surrounding farms , and may even reduce the long - term costs of managing solar sites . Greening the Clean Energy Transition : Smart Siting and Pollinator - Friendly Solar Energy in Illinois , outlines how to choose the best sites to install solar arrays and how to enhance the surrounding habitat . Photo Credit : Scott Schiller In 2021 , Illinois passed The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act ( CEJA ) , which seeks to move Illinois to entirely carbon - free power by 2050. The act paves the way for The new pollinator - friendly guide to solar installation the state to fight climate change by promoting clean , provides timely recommendations to shape decisions affordable energy . As CEJA sparks a rapid buildout about where renewables are placed and how sites are of renewables across the state , thoughtful siting managed . As the pivotal clean energy transition picks practices and the widespread uptake of pollinator- up speed in Illinois , thoughtful siting practices and the friendly plantings on solar sites are critical . widespread uptake of pollinator - friendly plantings on " With more and more solar projects in the queue and solar sites will be critical for securing the best benefits given that the average installation will last for 20 to 30 for nature , the climate and local communities . years , steps taken now to maximize the environmental For more information about how to adapt pollinator and community benefits of these projects will friendly solar installations and to read the TNC and have lasting positive impacts , " Petersen said . " It's Pollinator Partnership's guide , visit nature.org/ important to take advantage of win - win opportunities ILClimate to cut carbon pollution and protect nature . "