Our respect for the land we use plays a significant part in our renewable operations. Our upcoming planned solar projects will use about 4,800 acres spread across several sites – representing only 0.016% of Iowa’s 30 million acres of farmland – while delivering clean energy to thousands of homes. While utility-scale solar projects take up more space than wind turbines, they repurpose land in ways that can support long-term soil health and local ecosystems.

 

Supporting soil

Solar projects have been shown to benefit soil health in a number of ways. The perennial ground cover used around solar panels helps reduce runoff and erosion. Native grasses and vegetation we plant at our solar sites help prevent water runoff and aerate compacted soil layers. They also add organic carbon that supports the microbial networks that healthy soils rely on. Plus, the grasses we plant typically have much deeper roots than short, lawn-type grass, which helps add more organic matter to the soil. And, the solar panels themselves provide shade that cools the soil temperatures and further increases its water retention.

 

Cultivating ecosystems

At some of our solar sites, we plant native prairie grasses and flowers. These plants not only help preserve natural beauty but also boost local ecosystems. In fact, a six-year study in Minnesota found that utility-scale solar farms with native plants were used by pollinators as much as dedicated conservation land. This is especially exciting given the heavy population decline pollinators like bees and butterflies have been experiencing for the last several decades. The vegetation we plant can also help provide a habitat for small mammals and birds.

 

Letting the land rest

MidAmerican’s solar projects have a life cycle of about 30 years, taking the ground beneath and between the rows of panels out of intensive production for the length of the project. That long break is like a generation-long fallow period, giving the soil time to rebuild structure and organic matter. And, after the solar project has reached the end of its life and the equipment is removed, the land can be returned to agricultural use.

 

 

Contributing to communities

Solar projects don’t just bring benefits to the land they’re built on – they bring benefits to the people living around them, too. In Iowa, utility-scale solar projects can generate nearly six times more in local property taxes compared to traditional farmland, depending on the energy produced. Our planned Solar Reliability Project is expected to provide nearly $25 million in property tax payments over the life of the project. Solar property taxes help contribute to local schools, roads and bridges, emergency services and other public essentials.

 

As we continue to prepare for our customers’ future energy needs, our solar installations and more across the country are demonstrating that progress and preservation go hand in hand. When we generate clean energy while giving the land decades to recover and thrive, we’re not just powering homes and businesses, we’re nurturing the ground beneath us for future generations.