Native Plants and Solar

Benefits of Native Plants

• • They support pollinators and other beneficial wildlife by providing food and habitat including bees and butterflies
  • They are low maintenance and resilient
  • They have deep roots that keep the soil loose for better water absorption which helps prevent water runoff and flooding

How to Manage Native Plants

• • Water deeply the first season, but after that the plants should thrive with minimal intervention
  • Do not mow. Native plants take time to establish fully and mowing will interrupt their growth cycle and affect the insects and animals living in the plants
  • Do not fertilize or use herbicides. Native plants provide food and shelter for insects, birds and small animals
  • Leave the stalks and fallen leaves over winter.

Solar and Agrivoltaics

How Do Solar and Agriculture Work Together?

The term for the marriage of agriculture and solar production is “agrivoltaics”. There are many benefits to partnering agriculture with a solar array, even beyond planting native plants around your array. These include:

• • Improved production for certain crops including tomatoes, peppers, leafy plants like spinach or lettuce, berries and more.
  • Land can be used for grazing for sheep or goats
  • The arrays provide shade and shelter for more tender crops
  • Crops can use less water due to a reduction in evaporation and the creation of a “micro-climate” under the array

Interested in Learning More?

The Couillard Solar Foundation is located in Deerfield WI. We have donated over 600kW of solar for the village, and have a self-guided solar tour on our website. You can also stop in to our offices Mon-Fri to request a map or ask questions. We are located at 10 Liberty Street, Suite 122.