Low eco-impact solar farms preserve topsoil to ensure that the land that surrounds them remains productive. One of the few downsides of solar energy is that solar farms use a large amount of land per megawatt. While panels can be placed on buildings and other under-utilized surfaces, and improved efficiency can reduce the amount of land needed, the fact remains that getting the amount of solar power we need will require a fair bit of land. Traditionally, solar developers clear and level the land before installing solar panels. With low eco-impact solar, developers only level land where necessary and regardless preserve the topsoil. Developers then seed the ground with native plants, especially those that are friendly to bees and other pollinators, and have the option to maintain the areas directly around panels with grazing animals. This allows the land to remain highly productive and reduces the erosion that can lead to polluted brownfield soils. This approach can be extended to allow entire farms to be built and operated in conjunction with solar farms, and can lead to a dramatic reduction in the land designated exclusively for solar energy.

Discard 1 card from your hand, then add 1 Clean Energy token to your player board for each Solar tag in this card's stack.

• Buzzing Around Solar (US Department of Energy)

• Site Renewables Right (Nature Conservancy)

• Principles of Low Impact Solar Siting and Design (Nature Conservancy)

• Get involved in a local conservation group.

• Attend public meetings and hearings to encourage and require good siting policies. 

• Get involved in community solar projects to encourage the use of best practices.