Before the widespread use of modern fertilizers, farmers would routinely let their land rest or lie fallow for a year to regain soil fertility. With the advent of modern fertilizers, farmers no longer need to do so.
Although modern fertilizers help prop up overused and depleted land, the applications come at a price. In 2014, Scientific American quoted a United Nations official that “if current rates of degradation continue all of the world's top soil could be gone within 60 years.” Planting cover crops can significantly improve topsoil levels in a few years.
Solar-siting laws in Michigan provide incentives for native, pollinator-friendly vegetation under solar panels, a development that helps improve soil quality after years of degradation.
Native vegetation planted under solar farms provides benefits compared with the use of gravel or turf grass under the panels. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) “the deep roots of native vegetation retain more water than turf grass and gravel during heavy storms and periods of drought. They also help retain topsoil and improve soil health over time, even in "brownfield" areas with polluted soils.
Pollinator-friendly crops increase the population of native species, pollinators and other beneficial insects, helping improve the yield of nearby crops. Solar panels also provide shade that improves soil health by reducing heat and, therefore, carbon emissions.
The recent revolutionary clean energy laws make Michigan a clean energy leader. Despite the progress that has been made, there is still more to do. The legislators who worked hard to enact these renewable energy laws took a courageous stand to fight climate change and protect our future. Please take time to thank them and support their efforts to protect the planet for future generations.
Comments or questions can be directed to Mike Buza at theoriginalzuba@yahoo.com.