A big concern with large-scale solar farms is the impact on land use. Solar developers often site projects on agricultural land that is taken out of production. Also, the vegetation around solar panels needs to be maintained to prevent shading. In some cases, herbicides are used, contaminating waterways, and mowing generates pollution. If solar developers apply gravel or plant turfgrass, the land has little wildlife value.

As the local food movement gains steam, isn’t it counterproductive to turn productive cropland into an energy plant? How can the solar energy industry embrace biodiversity while producing clean energy? Is dual use of a solar site possible?

Solar farms can be managed to increase pollinator habitat, improve soil quality, and even provide grazing for livestock. Innovative land management approaches enable solar projects to serve multiple purposes, benefitting the local economy. Keeping honeybees, grazing sheep, and even cultivating mushrooms can all complement a solar energy project.

Native Wildflowers Boost Pollinator Habitat

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory have been examining the ecological and economic benefits of establishing native vegetation, including wildflowers and prairie grasses, at solar facilities. Native vegetation attracts crucial critters like bees, flies, bats, birds, wasps, moths, and butterflies, which can benefit crop yields.

A diverse array of native plants benefits wildlife diversity, especially pollinators. Recent research from NREL found that insect abundance tripled over 5 years at two Minnesota solar farms intentionally designed with native plantings to support pollinators. The study, published in 2024, is the longest-run, most comprehensive assessment of solar panels impact on soil, habitat, and pollinators.

Yet, a combination of habitat loss and pollutants has caused pollinator populations to plummet. More than half of native bee species in the U.S. have seen their numbers drop sharply since 2005, with almost 25 percent now at risk of extinction. Meanwhile, the North American monarch butterfly population has declined 68 percent over the past two decades.

Promoting pollinator populations around solar farms can help increase crop yields for nearby farmers. Researchers identified over 3,500 square kilometers of pollinator-dependent crops—including soybeans, alfalfa, cotton, almonds, and citrus—within pollinator foraging distance of existing and planned utility-scale solar facilities. The U.S. is expected to convert six million acres of land to solar facilities before 2050, making pollinator-friendly practices increasingly important.

Another benefit: Long-term maintenance costs and environmental degradation from native plants are often lower than those of growing turfgrass around the panels. Once established, these plants prevent soil erosion, improve soil quality, and require less maintenance than turfgrass. Native plants tend to be drought-resistant and do not require irrigation. Conversely, turfgrass may need to be irrigated, and it requires regular mowing to prevent it from shading the solar array.

Grazing Livestock at Solar Farms

The dual-use of livestock grazing and solar energy production has experienced explosive growth. Sheep are an ideal match for “solar grazing” because they do an excellent job of maintaining vegetation under panels that might otherwise be removed using herbicides or weed wackers. The solar panels also provide shade and a windbreak for sheep, creating a symbiotic relationship.

The scale of solar grazing is much larger than previously understood. According to the first-ever U.S. Solar Grazing Census, conducted in 2024 by NREL and the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), approximately 113,050 sheep were grazing 129,000 acres across over 500 solar sites in 30 states to support an estimated 18,000–26,000 megawatts of solar power plants being grazed—about 7–11 percent of existing installed solar capacity.

Dual use of the site generates additional revenue streams from the same property by producing meat, dairy, or wool. Solar grazing also allows farmers to expand their flocks without purchasing more land and promotes soil fertility. Over 50 percent of solar graziers reported being financially motivated to begin solar grazing, while environmental benefits were the next largest motivating factor. One grazier cited in the census report noted that grazing was “the only way I was able to be profitable as a livestock producer and first-generation farmer with no access to land.”

Conversely, mowing has its drawbacks. Exhaust pollutes the air, and unlike sheep, mowers are often too tall to get underneath the panels. Steep or rocky sites can be difficult to access with mowing equipment, and it can damage panels. Real-world data from operating sites shows that grazing is cost-competitive with mowing and can reduce maintenance costs over time.

Solar grazing is also drawing younger farmers and more women into agriculture. The 2024 census found that over one-third of solar graziers are women, and the average age of participants is younger than the national average for farmers. By pairing ranching with solar, farmers are keeping multi-generational farms alive and building stronger local economies. A new documentary, “Pastures and Panels,” spotlights the stories of farmers and ranchers revitalizing family farms through solar grazing.

Growing Food Under Solar Panels

The practice of growing crops under solar panels, known as agrivoltaics, has evolved from a niche experiment to a rapidly growing industry. The global agrivoltaics market grew to $6.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow 10 percent annually through 2034.

Recent field trials have expanded the range of crops suitable for agrivoltaic systems. A 2024 study from MIT Lincoln Laboratory found that chili peppers, strawberries, and eggplant showed yield gains of up to 17 percent under 35 percent solar panel shading. Even corn and soybeans, long considered marginal when placed under solar panels, showed promising results in high-clearance vertical solar systems, with yield reductions of less than 3 percent while improving water retention.

In regions like Pennsylvania, “the mushroom capital of the world,” mushrooms are well-suited for agrivoltaic systems because they require controlled light and temperature conditions that can be managed under the shade of solar panels. Vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and broccoli, along with herbs like cilantro and parsley, have also grown successfully in agrivoltaic settings.

Research by Cornell University’s Agrivoltaics Research Program is investigating how adjustable-tilt solar panels above crops can reduce heat stress by providing shade to protect plants against late frost by retaining more heat at night, which also reduces irrigation requirements by minimizing evaporation.

“Agrivoltaics are the missing link in the whole system, because they allow growers to dual-crop, so to speak: harvest the sun and harvest plants or graze livestock under the panels,” farmer Elizabeth Ryan, who owns Stone Ridge Orchard, told the Cornell Chronicle. “I’m super excited about this concept and see it as the next frontier.”

How to Promote Agrivoltaic & Wildlife Habitat

Solar farms are being installed throughout the United States, with utility-scale solar capacity reaching 128.6 gigawatts in 2025. Local citizens can often provide feedback on these projects during the permitting process. It is even possible to incorporate native wildflowers or solar grazing at existing solar farms.

Six states have implemented voluntary standards for pollinator-friendly solar, led by Minnesota’s Habitat Friendly Solar Program. Some municipalities require that ground-mounted solar projects meet habitat-friendly standards to ensure they provide multiple environmental benefits.

Voicing your support for agricultural production and native fauna enables solar farms to make these practices more widespread. Resources exist to help promote dual-use, including:

Using the land at solar farms for agriculture and wildlife habitat can benefit solar developers, farmers, wildlife, and local communities. As the U.S. works toward ambitious renewable energy goals, innovative dual-use approaches ensure that solar expansion supports rather than competes with food production and ecosystem health.

Editor’s Note: Originally published on December 17, 2020, this article was substantially updated in October 2025.