National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

US Department of Energy national laboratory

Appears in 1 story · Last updated Oct 26, 2026

Stories

Minnesota solar farms planted with native habitat see native bees multiply 20-fold

New Capabilities

Co-led the study

In 2018, Enel Green Power seeded two retired farm fields in southern Minnesota with native grasses and wildflowers beneath its solar panels. By 2022, native bee numbers had grown 20-fold, total insects had tripled, and flowering plant species had increased sevenfold.

Updated Oct 26