In 2020, the UMass Clean Energy Extension established the UMass Pollinator-Friendly Solar PV Certification Program after extensive stakeholder work with experts to define pollinator-friendly criteria and best management practices for planting and maintaining species to attract pollinators, other wildlife, and provide ecosystem services. The Certification has been adopted by the state’s solar incentive (SMART) program so that developers receive an adder incentive to gain Certification.
The Pollinator-Friendly Solar PV Certification program has resulted in over 600 acres of solar array land certified, some of which are now in development and being established. The program requires reporting and periodic site evaluations by the Clean Energy Extension, which will contribute research-level data to evaluation the effectiveness, challenges, and impacts on pollinators and wildlife.
Massachusetts has seen expansive growth of solar photovoltaic installations as part of its legally binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. While MA remains a leader in solar policy and economic activity, as solar now comes to scale there have been public concerns regarding the siting of larger scale ground mounted solar and impacts on open space, forests, and agriculture. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) includes provisions in the current state solar energy program which limit conventional ground-mounted solar arrays on farmland and incentivizes “dual-use” or agrivoltaics technology, as well as the purposeful planting and maintaining pollinator and wildlife friendly habitat. Under the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program, there is a significant financial incentive and strict guidelines for eligibility of these technologies, as well as reporting procedures to assure these projects are maintained in productive agriculture or habitat over time.
The UMass Clean Energy Extension (CEE) is engaged in both of these state regulatory programs. Under the dual-use, agrivoltaics regulations, CEE provides reviews of pre-determination applications received by DOER and works with our Agriculture Extension colleagues to assess the application and farm plan viabilities. CEE also leads a U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office grant to assess the impacts of agrivoltaics on farm productivity and financial viability, and the broader agriculture economy. CEE is also the developer and administer of the Pollinator Friendly PV Certificate program that the state has adopted in its regulations to demonstrate eligibility of the SMART program adder.
As private sector solar developers, landowners, and farmers move these agrivoltaics and pollinator friendly solar projects and markets forward, the state and national researchers and policymakers are seeking information and data on best practices and outcomes. Notably, U.S. DOE and USDA have recently initiated their own interdepartmental forums on these energy/land/agriculture issues. While conditions and approaches differ throughout the country, the MA activities are of critical importance for the similar agriculture, solar, and land use issues that are emerging across the northeast and mid-Atlantic portion of the country.
Under both of these programs, CEE has unique insight into the state agency and private market activities that are moving these new approaches forward in Massachusetts. Both the agrivoltaics incentive and pollinator friendly solar certificate require annual reporting to demonstrate successes, challenges, and remedies associated with the technology and maintaining productive agriculture and pollinator habitat. These reports, along with continued review of new applications and research literature, and stakeholder engagement will be used by CEE to disseminate findings to the agriculture and policymaking community to extend the knowledge of the impact and best practices regarding agrivoltaics and pollinator friendly solar on land use and agriculture in the northeast.
