Solar energy ordinance that includes a pollinator-friendly provision ahead of construction of Indiana’s largest solar farm.
Provides an overview of state efforts to encourage solar PV development in a manner that is beneficial to pollinators.
Requires the creation of a pollinator friendly designation program, promulgating regulations and a scorecard.
Requires that solar developers claiming their solar site is beneficial to pollinators and birds are assessed to address specific planting and management designs.
Requires the establishment of a native vegetation habitat and pollinator management plan that can be used by solar operators to claim they are following voluntary site management practices.
Requires the Illinois Dept. of Natural resources to create a scorecard by which a solar site can claim to be pollinator friendly.
Requires the development of minimum guidelines (via scorecard) for vegetation management plans used by those who make public claim that their property is pollinator friendly or provides protections to pollinators.
Identifies over 3,500 sq km of agricultural land near existing and planned US solar energy facilities that may benefit from increased pollination services through the creation of pollinator habitat at said facilities.
In 2019, pollinator-friendly commercial solar sites were approved for enrollment, opening up 3.4 million acres of farmland currently enrolled in the program to pollinator-friendly solar development.
Specify site requirements related to ground cover and buffer areas of solar projects that benefit pollinators.