In a world facing a shifting climate, rising global population and prolonged droughts, maintaining ecosystems through proper land management is of critical importance. It’s also a task that a recent Colorado State University study found possible through installing solar panels on grasslands.
Originally published in Environmental Research Letters May 29, collaborative research between CSU and Cornell University found evidence that solar panels installed on semi-arid grasslands improve local soil moisture content and reducing water stress. Both of which increased local plant growth by up to 20% compared to open fields.
The study was a collaborative effort between CSU University Distinguished Professor of biology Alan Knapp and Matthew Sturchio, who received his Ph.D. in ecology from CSU in April 2024…