setting a new standard

jack jordan, executive director of climate action evanston, says the ordinance is essentially a standard for building performance. 

“when we think about a building, how does a building perform? can you think about an athlete performing? a building performs for how much energy it’s using, where that energy is coming from, how energy efficient it is,” jordan said. 

buildings emit greenhouse gases a number of ways, depending on the type of building it is. residential buildings using natural gas appliances, such as stoves and furnaces, emit more than buildings that use electrical appliances. an example of a modification that could be implemented through the hbo is the electrification of natural gas appliances, such as water heaters, stoves and furnaces. 

jordan emphasizes that the transformation of these buildings will not only reduce emissions, but it will also improve indoor air quality as residents make the switch to electric appliances over natural-gas ones. 

connecting the community

the hbo also outlines a rulemaking process that creates two public bodies, the healthy buildings accountability board (hbab) and the healthy buildings technical committee (hbtc). 

the hbtc will focus on the technical aspects of transforming a building to use clean energy, while the hbab will be focused on equity concerns that arise as the buildings are modified. 

the two rulemaking bodies will take input from local community members and building owners over the course of the next year to design a plan for each building to begin to meet its net-zero goal. 

“the intent is not to raise rents, in particular, for folks that are in buildings that are either designated affordable housing or that we just want to maintain affordability,” said paula scholl, chair of the building electrification working group and member of the evanston environment board. “there will be a process by which at least 20% of the buildings will be considered equity prioritized. those would not only include affordable housing, but could also include our schools and houses of worship.”

most of the buildings included in the ordinance are located in evanston’s first, third, fourth and seventh wards. the seventh ward, home to northwestern university, has 91 buildings listed to be updated as part of the ordinance. other buildings included in the hbo are local schools, such as evanston township high school, apartment building complexes, the northshore evanston hospital, among others. 

councilwoman clare kelly, the only dissenting vote during the city council meeting that led to the passage of the hbo, argued that the ordinance was rushed, saying during the meeting that the city is “jumping to the end” of the process rather than laying out specific details and plans for each building before passing the ordinance. 

sustainable buildings of the future

the hbo will not only provide health benefits for evanston residents, but it will also create jobs, including for technicians to make upgrades, and lower energy costs for building owners in the long-term, jordan said. 

“this is a pathway to very well-paying sustainable employment, you know, technical employment that i think a lot of our young people would really appreciate, hands on work that is actively saving the planet,” he said. 

new york city and st. louis, among others, have established building codes focused on sustainability and energy efficiency. in st. louis, the building energy performance standard was passed in may 2020, and it targets municipal, commercial, institutional and residential properties 50,000 square feet and larger. 

“the more cities that do it, the more we get ideas, too. no ordinance is static. you can always change it and revise it and make it better over the years. so that’s the other thing is we want to encourage other folks to try something, and we’ll try to get the best ideas from everybody,” she said.

newlab is a climate-focused global venture platform that helps technology startups move faster and more efficiently. they have maker spaces, over 100 acres of piloting infrastructure, and lots of industry and community connections to allow startups to get their business running! originally based in brooklyn, new york, newlab has expanded to detroit and is currently setting up its offices in riyadh, saudi arabia. newlab is committed to decarbonization by localizing supply chain systems and keeping production clean and supported here in the states. newlab and their partner across the street, michigan central station, have a devoted skills team that is committed to upscaling the local labor force creating more jobs for engineers, electricians, and business owners across detroit and the u.s. as they move to electric energy.

they must be doing something right as over 28% of newlab’s membership base has relocated from outside of michigan or in the case of international companies, have opened a north american office in detroit with newlab. with over 300 startups and over 1,000 members in their network, newlab is just getting started. if you have a radical new idea about how technology can improve the world around us, newlab is a great place to start.

discover how innovative technology and passionate engineers are redefining sustainability, turning everyday sewage into valuable resources that benefit our environment and communities. this story breaks down the future of waste management and shows how blue plains is leading the charge toward a more sustainable tomorrow.

see the full story below!

detroit has always been a city of reinvention, and the latest wave of startups at newlab proves that innovation isn’t slowing down. through a partnership with ford’s michigan central, newlab fosters a community of forward-thinking entrepreneurs tackling sustainable mobility. among them is shandoka, an electric motorcycle startup led by ceo ernest eich, who is reimagining two-wheeled transportation. instead of building new electric motorcycles from scratch, shandoka retrofits existing models with eich’s structural adapter — an innovative power solution that replaces combustion engines. this approach reduces waste and accelerates the transition to cleaner transportation.

this shift aligns with the broader goals of a just transition — ensuring that workers and industries impacted by decarbonization aren’t left behind. newlab’s ecosystem provides essential resources, from state-of-the-art tools to industry expertise, helping companies like shandoka scale their greenhouse gas emissions impact. according to the epa, transportation accounts for nearly 29% of u.s. greenhouse gas emissions, and motorcycles contribute to air pollution that exacerbates asthma and heart disease. by transforming existing motorcycles into zero-emission vehicles, eich and his team are designing a product that contributes to a cleaner future.

wildland fires have long been both a friend and foe to indigenous communities. while fires can bring destruction, they also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. as someone who grew up on an indian reservation, i have witnessed firsthand the delicate balance between these forces and the resilience of my community in the face of modern challenges.

this story explores the intersection of traditional fire management practices and contemporary innovations to address wildland fires, drawing on insights from community elders, fire management professionals, and local activists.

preserving tradition: the wisdom of controlled burns

for generations, indigenous communities have practiced controlled burns, or prescribed fires, to manage the land and prevent catastrophic wildfires. these burns help reduce fuel loads, promote new growth, and maintain the health of ecosystems.

i had the privilege of speaking with elder gerald banashley, a respected leader in our community, about the significance of these practices.

“controlled burns have always been a part of our way of life,” elder banashley said. “they help us live in harmony with the land and ensure the survival of both the people and the environment.”

elder banashley recounted stories of how controlled burns were traditionally conducted with great care and respect for the land. these practices were not only about fire management but also about preserving cultural heritage and fostering a deep connection with nature that has many connections. 

modern challenges: the impact of climate change

while traditional fire management practices remain vital, the reality of climate change has introduced new challenges. increased temperatures, prolonged droughts, and changing weather patterns have led to more frequent and intense wildland fires. to better understand these modern challenges, i spoke with laramie higgins, a fire management professional who works with the bureau of indian affairs (bia).

“climate change is exacerbating the conditions that lead to wildfires,” higgins said. “we’re seeing longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior, which makes it crucial to integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology.”

higgins emphasized the need for collaboration between indigenous communities and governmental agencies to develop effective fire management strategies. this includes incorporating traditional practices, like controlled burns, with advanced technologies such as remote sensing and predictive modeling.

community resilience: adapting and innovating

growing up on the reservation, i witnessed the strength and resilience of my community in the face of wildland fires such as the rodeo-chediski and wallow fires. despite the challenges posed by climate change, we have adapted and innovated to protect our land and people. local activist randall burnette, who leads a youth fire management program, shared his perspective on the importance of community-driven initiatives.

“our community has always been proactive in addressing fire management,” burnette said. “we’re educating the younger generation about both traditional practices and modern techniques to ensure that our knowledge is passed down and adapted to current conditions.”

burnette’s program combines classroom education with hands-on training in controlled burns, fire suppression techniques, and the use of modern firefighting equipment. the goal is to empower the youth to become future leaders in fire management and environmental stewardship.

a balanced approach to fire management

the story of wildland fire management on indian reservations is one of balance — honoring traditional practices while embracing modern innovations. by combining the wisdom of our ancestors with innovative technology, indigenous communities can continue to protect and preserve their land for future generations.

as elder banashley wisely said, “fire is a powerful force, but it is also a tool. when used with respect and knowledge, it can sustain us and the land we call home.”

in conclusion, the integration of traditional knowledge and modern innovations offers a promising path forward for wildland fire management on indian reservations. by fostering collaboration, educating the youth, and adapting to new challenges, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our communities and the environment for generations to come. 

if electric vehicles (evs) are charging us into the future, range anxiety could be hitting the brakes. according to jd power, ev sales grew last year at a 50% pace, reaching one million units. by 2025, electric vehicle sales could comprise almost 20% of new car sales. 

• range anxiety is the fear that an electric vehicle will not have enough battery charge to reach its destination, leaving occupants worried about being stranded. 

why it matters: carbon emitted from internal combustion engines account for 28% of greenhouse gases emitted annually, according to 2022 data. as contributors to climate change, many are arguing that motor companies have the responsibility to introduce innovative solutions such as evs and hybrid models to mitigate additional harm to the planet.

range anxiety is particularly threatening to the long term ev transition because consumers are hesitant about long distance travels along stretches of road where there may be fewer ev charging stations.

early this year, reports found that electric vehicle sales had slowed as more consumers turned to hybrid models as their primary means of transportation. however, while tesla continues to struggle, politico recently reported that ev sales by traditional auto manufacturers saw a 75% increase this april. with dynamic shifts happening in the industry, auto-manufacturers’ responses to range anxiety in consumers could make or break annual sales. 

the big picture: to ensure a smooth and steady transition to electric vehicles, motor companies must address range anxiety and quell consumer apprehension.

• even with more long-range options and increased charging stations, battery-powered cars are making some drivers anxious. a survey from aaa showed that about 75% of respondents were undecided or unlikely to purchase an ev due to concerns about charging infrastructure and range anxiety. however, survey results showed that younger generations were most open to purchasing an ev (31% of millennials).
• in a june 2022 survey by forbes magazine, americans were found to be worried about range regardless of their geographic location. however, drivers in the midwest were most stressed about charging on the go, despite efforts to increase fast-charging stations along major highways. 
• a reported 78% of ev owners report that feelings of range anxiety decrease with increased driving and vehicle knowledge. 
• auto manufacturers such as ford motor company have designed apps that help alleviate range anxiety and instill confidence in the consumer. their fordpass app, for example, provides ancillary equipment and technology that allows users to set their departure times, pre-heat/cool the battery, and prepare the vehicle for long distance travel. 

range confidence 

car manufacturers are working to instill range confidence, as opposed to range anxiety. according to jp helveston, assistant professor at george washington university in the department of engineering management and systems engineering, the key to range confidence is building higher-range evs. “while battery prices have fallen exponentially, oems (original equipment manufacturers) have decided to make longer-range evs instead of less expensive, and smaller range, evs. this has translated into an ev market in the us with longer-range, and very, very heavy, evs than anywhere else in the world, but at the expense of affordability,” helveston said. 

the primary focal point when it comes to range confidence is understanding how much people use the vehicle on a daily basis. ford’s research found that people are driving anywhere from 15 to 50 miles per day (which is well within what studies have found to be typical average of 26.4 minutes). 

several factors impact a car’s energy usage, including heating and cooling systems. in certain ford models, such as the mach-e suv and f-150 lightning, the console displays a chart mapping out how much energy is consumed. 

driving behaviors also impact a car’s range. a driver going at a rapid acceleration of 80 miles per hour on the highway will likely experience a rapid decline in energy compared to a driver going at a steady 30 miles per hour. 

according to whitney pineda, technology communications manager at ford motor company, the key to instilling range confidence lies in understanding how consumers are using their vehicle and helping them find the right vehicle for a great experience. 

while the consumer is responsible for choosing a vehicle that makes sense for their needs, pineda said that education about charging and how to condition their vehicle are crucial to easing the transition for ev drivers. 

“if you are getting ready to hit the road with the family, you are packing up your car and running around the house and may quickly want to check the vehicle and charge information,” pineda said. 

ford offers the fordpass app as the one stop shop for this type of information. owners of ford vehicles can download the app and link an account to their vehicle’s vin. using the interface, they can track their vehicle’s status and performance including fuel and charge levels, as well as vehicle health alerts.

the big transition

while jd power agreed that evs are still in the ‘early adopter phase’ at the end of 2023. sam trentin, a 75-year-old michigander and owner of a f-150 lightning, lives in escanaba and first became interested in purchasing the lightning after seeing television advertisements on electric vehicles. 

“i knew i wanted electric, but i wanted a pickup,” trentin said. “i bought it because of the environment.” trentin’s desire to help the climate may have been the motivation behind his purchase, but he loves the truck itself. beyond its strengths in sustainability, trentin said the car is much smoother than gas and boasts better acceleration. “i love it,” he said, firmly. but issues relating to weather and charging have posed threats to his adoration for the truck. 

as a resident of escanaba, michigan, where daily low temperatures often fall between 23°f to 15°f, and can drop below 0° during peak winter months, trentin relies on a car that can charge him through the cold weather. “the problem is the cold; i have issues when it gets into the 20s,” trentin said. “the cold impacts the mileage.” 

the phenomenon trentin is referring to is neither new nor surprising, and where battery preconditioning is helpful. the cold slows down the chemical process that electric vehicle batteries use to store and release energy. as a result, ev owners like trentin must deal with low battery performance and increased charging times, especially during long distance trips.

this past christmas, trentin claimed he was unable to go to spend time with his son, who lives just 140 miles east of escanaba. “i can’t go to any place in that type of weather and there is no charging station between st. ignace and escanaba,” trentin said. the f-150 has a range of an epa-estimated 300 miles, but in below-freezing temperatures, the vehicle can lose 36% of its range according to research by ev reselling platform, recurrent.

to help counteract the effects of cold temperatures, drivers can use the fordpass app to check their battery charge and “precondition” or prepare their vehicle before a long-distance trip. users can plug in and set their departure times in addition to pre-heating and pre-cooling their batteries and cabins in preparation for a ride. 

according to the fordpass website, preconditioning the vehicle allows the battery to warm to optimum temperature before use, which positively affects the range and driving dynamics for longer distance driving. 

as the ev market evolves with rapid battery innovation, renata arsenault, technical expert for advanced battery recycling at ford, said that ford’s battery technology has “surpassed what people expected.” 

bridging the technology gap 

experts like helveston believe the solution to tech-related issues lies in expanding the charging infrastructure and creating more models. “workplace charging is increasingly important for people to be able to refuel during the day on solar energy that is increasingly in large supply on the grid. consumers also have very few options right now for an ev. we need way more different types of models and classes: ev suvs, pickups, minivans, etc.,” helveston said.

car manufacturers are pushing for consumers to purchase an ev in the first place. a survey conducted by recurrent revealed that ev range anxiety drastically diminished with the experience of owning an ev. according to the study, range anxiety is highest among potential ev buyers in the one-to-two years before their first purchase, but with prolonged ownership, the feelings decrease significantly. public education programs such as national drive electric week also provide opportunities for potential consumers to get acclimated with evs. 

the bottom line: for as long as humans drive, they will have personal preferences for how they use their vehicles. the solution to range anxiety and a smooth ev transition lies in satisfying individual customer needs, while bridging the gap between early adopters and the next generation of ev owners.

this story was originally published on the gw alliance for a sustainable future spotlight page.

electric vehicles (evs) have emerged as a major solution to combat climate change, offering a promising alternative to traditional gas-powered cars. with brands like ford, tesla, and rivian leading the charge, evs have gained significant traction in recent years, captivating the attention of environmentally conscious consumers worldwide. 

as someone accustomed to driving a gas car — or even a hybrid — the transition to a fully electric vehicle may seem like a leap into the unknown. questions inevitably arise: if i’m not using gas, what exactly is powering my vehicle? to demystify the inner-workings of ford’s ev technology specifically, we embarked on a journey to the ford rouge electric vehicle center, a hub of innovation and cutting-edge technology in the world of electric vehicles. 

the cell: building blocks of ev power

at the core of an ev battery lies the cell, said renata arsenault, technical expert at ford. “a single cell, (similar to) what’s in your phone or computer or in a battery,” arsenault said. the ford lithium ion cell is composed of the following materials:

• carbon black
• pvdf binder
• cmc binder
• sbr binder
• carbon-coated silicon/ silicon dioxide  
• spodumene (lithium)
• nickel briquettes
• ncm (cathode)
• graphite (anode) 

these materials are then mixed to create a slurry. this slurry is used to coat aluminum and copper foils. this coating extends to just before the end of the foil allowing for slitting and notching. these foil pieces are stacked, utilizing a separator to place them into an alternating pattern of aluminum and copper layers.

the notched tabs of each layer are then welded together before the jelly roll is packaged and filled with electrolyte. the last steps to its formation are introducing a charge, degassing and trimming the cell. once this is done, the singular cell is complete.

as mentioned in the formation of the cell there is an anode (positive side) and cathode (negative side) materials, with lithium ions shuttling back and forth between them during a charge and discharge cycle. as lithium ions migrate and move throughout the electrolyte, they release electrons, which flow through an external circuit, providing the necessary power for the vehicle’s operation. this is the electrical energy which powers the vehicle.  

a note on anodes and cathodes

the anode of a battery can be thought of as the sun in a solar system, radiating energy outward to power the surrounding planets. just as the sun emits light and heat, the anode facilitates chemical reactions within the battery, releasing electrons to generate electrical energy. it serves as the central source of power, supplying the necessary energy to drive devices or vehicles forward.

conversely, the cathode acts as the orbiting planets, absorbing and utilizing the energy emitted by the anode. like how planets orbit around the sun, the cathode balances the electrical flow, ensuring that the battery operates effectively and efficiently.

battery architecture: from cells to packs

in evs, multiple cell pouches are organized in a combination of series and parallel configurations, forming arrays that collectively make up the battery pack. each configuration adds its own respective advantage, with the series configuration allowing for increased voltage, and with the parallel configuration allowing for increased current capacity.

placing cells in parallel increases the total current capacity of the system because each cell contributes its current capacity to the overall output. in a parallel configuration, the total current is the sum of the currents produced by each cell. when cells are connected in parallel, the voltage remains the same as that of a single cell. however, the total current capacity increases because each cell adds its current output to the overall current.

on the other hand, connecting cells in series increases the total voltage of the system. in a series configuration, the voltage adds up across each cell, while the total current remains the same as that of a single cell.

within a ford vehicle, the amount of cells is generally contingent on the model of the vehicle and the amount of horsepower sought after. for example, the ford f-150 contains about 450 pouches in one battery pack.

the total weight of the battery pack can be upwards of 1500 pounds. this pack also includes structural components to hold the cells securely, along with thermal management systems to regulate temperature and ensure efficient performance, especially in extreme conditions. 

joshua styron, high voltage battery computer aided engineer (cae) and validation manager at ford, drew a connection between humans and batteries saying, “battery cells like to be about the same temperature that people do. so they don’t want to be too hot. they don’t want to be too cold.” historically, smaller batteries could be air cooled, but given the scale of use, all ford ev batteries utilize a liquid cooling system. 

safety measures: mitigating risks

given the substantial energy stored in ev batteries, safety is paramount. battery management systems monitor and regulate factors such as temperature, voltage, and current to prevent overheating or overcharging.

additionally, styron mentioned that built-in switches ensure that, “because there’s so much energy and power available in these batteries, [you can] turn off the access to that energy so that it is safe when you have stepped away from your vehicle.” that enhances safety during operation and when the vehicle is idle.

to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use and unexpected events like crashes, ev battery packs undergo rigorous testing. engineers intentionally subject them to stress tests, including overcharging and crash simulations, to understand their responses and implement features that ensure safety and durability. 

temperature testing involves subjecting ev batteries to a range of temperatures representative of real-world conditions, including extreme high and low temperatures as well as normal operating temperatures. 

moving forward

the evolution of ev batteries has been marked by significant headway in innovation and efficiency, driven by ongoing research and development efforts. from the early days characterized by bulky, complex battery packs to today’s streamlined and integrated designs, the journey of ev batteries reflects a continuous quest for improvement.

one notable trend in ev battery technology is the increasing integration of battery systems with vehicle structures. arsenault spoke to ford’s forward thinking mindset saying, “we’re not like just carving out a hole in the vehicle and, you know, taking an ice [internal combustion engine] vehicle and sticking in a battery. we’re really building the vehicle with the idea of the whole ev, you know, vehicle needs, and requirements.”

this proactive approach allows for more efficient design trade-offs, resulting in lighter, more compact battery systems that seamlessly blend with the vehicle’s architecture. 

past ev battery designs featured multiple layers of components, including cells, arrays, and trays, nested within one another. however, advancements in integrated structures have allowed manufacturers  to reduce unnecessary material and improve energy efficiency. “the cells are becoming more integrated into the battery trays and the trays are becoming more integrated into the vehicle structures… continually going on to ultimately make a lower cost and more efficient product for the customers,” styron said. 

as vehicles become lighter, they can travel further on a single charge, alleviating concerns related to range anxiety — an issue that has previously hindered widespread ev adoption. moreover, as charging infrastructure continues to improve, there is potential to further reduce battery size without sacrificing usability, catering to a broader range of consumer needs.

in the middle of a solar panel array in north carolina, the grass rustles with movement. a raccoon wanders between the panels. a fox wriggles through the permeable fencing and darts around the site. a cluster of turkeys stare accusingly into the wildlife camera. eventually, a curious bobcat prowls outside the fence, slinking inside and outside of the site boundary. 

the animal sightings were made possible by a carefully-placed camera trap used for conservation research. the project is part of efforts from the nature conservancy to investigate how solar development influences animal movement and work with solar developers to preserve the small corridors — or wildlife passageways — that allow for that movement. 

the sight of wildlife lingering at a solar facility between crystalline panels is an unusual one. but in north carolina, a state that ranks fourth in the nation for solar energy production and ninth for biodiversity, scientists and developers are realizing that the choice between renewables and biodiversity doesn’t have to be a trade-off.  

solar energy in the energy transition and climate crisis

amid national efforts to decarbonize the u.s. energy sector and achieve current emissions reductions goals, the u.s. is increasing its buildout of renewable energy. in the last decade, the solar industry saw an average annual growth rate of 24%, according to the solar energy industries association. 

as more and more renewables projects gain traction in states like north carolina, biologists have raised concerns over potential impacts on wildlife populations, especially amid overdevelopment and fragmentation. scientists have begun to research those impacts, but many studies have focused narrowly on bird deaths, habitat conversion,  pollinator habitat, or soil ecosystems, with fewer insights on migration and movement specifically. with climate change exacerbating the need and scale of future migrations, this research gap is a pressing one. 

while people often think of climate change as the biggest threat to biodiversity, the answer is actually habitat loss. liz kalies, the lead renewable energy scientist at the nature conservancy, spreads this message in her conservation work. “we can’t justify poor siting of renewable energy in the name of biodiversity,” said kalies. 

“but similarly, if we ignore climate change, that will also have severe consequences for biodiversity. so, we just really need to keep the two in our mind simultaneously, and not sacrifice one for the other,” she said.

strategies for building wildlife-friendly solar

fortunately, solar developers haves several options to avoid making those sacrifices: selecting sites responsibly (including repurposed mine land), building in wildlife passageways (small corridors to allow animals to pass through)—which could mean splitting a site down the middle—and letting nature reclaim parts of the facility by growing wildflowers, planting native species, or building pollinator habitats. a simple change, such as mowing the lawn in september or october instead of august, after breeding season, can make a difference, according to a research team in new york. 

one of the most promising strategies so far is permeable fencing: swapping out traditional chain-link fencing for larger-holed fencing, which is meshy enough to allow small-to-medium sized mammals to slip through. animal monitoring reports show the early promise of this fencing, as camera traps capture foxes, birds, and coyotes navigating around the fencing. in one study, wildlife-permeable fencing increased the probability that ungulates (hoofed mammals) successfully crossed through the fence by 33% — and they were able to do so in 54% less time.

camera trapping and bobcat tracking: the research behind wildlife-friendly solar

kalies and her team have launched several projects to study solar-wildlife interactions, including the camera trap project, direct site visits with developers, and even a bobcat-specific project. kalies and her team are currently working on the latter, which involves locating, sedating, radio collaring, and tracking bobcats to generate visual maps of their meanderings. bobcats are secretive, elusive animals who prefer uninterrupted vegetation, making them good candidates to study the challenges that animals may face in in solar landscapes. 

surprisingly, bobcats are interacting with the solar facilities. from the videos kalies played, it appears some of them are even drawn to the facilities for unknown reasons. in their preliminary data, one bobcat appeared to cut through a solar facility that didn’t even have a permeable fence. the team hopes to increase their sample size of bobcats in order to predict impacts of solar buildout on their populations through simulation alone.

do developers really want foxes and bobcats roaming through their facilities?

sometimes, the answer is yes, according to developers. medium-sized predators may help quell rodent populations, and rodents have been known to gnaw through the panels’ wiring, breaking the solar array.  

wildlife passageways offer other benefits to developers. at face value, building wildlife-friendly infrastructure is great for a company’s brand image and public relations — especially when local opposition to renewable projects is so prevalent, and sometimes stems from animal conservation concerns. additionally, installing wildlife-friendly fencing is economical, according to kalies. it costs roughly the same as a chain-link fence and holds up just as well structurally, based on her reports from developers. 

“i love the idea of wildlife friendly fencing,”  said scott starr, co-founder of highline renewables. 

“you’re going to be a partner with the community for 30 plus years. so, you want to do things like screen it with evergreens or use wildlife friendly fencing […] and even if it’s a small upcharge, you are looking for things to make the project work that don’t just show up in the pro forma but are also a benefit to the community.” 

as a developer who specializes in small-scale distributed generation,  starr notes that it’s common to screen for endangered species early on as part of choosing a site. “we are very careful as developers towards critical species, critical habitat, wetlands, things like that. that is part of the process.” 

but, when it comes to sharing land with wildlife, the territory is more unfamiliar. starr elaborates on the policy gaps in how governments incentivize wildlife-friendly buildout. 

“the only things that i’ve really seen are ‘we’ll give you adders to put it on this rooftop!’ and ‘we’ll give you adders if  you put it on a brownfield or co-locate with some kind of agricultural operations!’ said starr. “there never is really anything about wildlife corridors—we just don’t know.” 

while developers can’t claim that solar sites are equivalent to wildlife refuges, they do share some compelling similarities: they’re quiet, isolated, fenced off, and relatively low-disturbance on the landscape. whether or not a site is wildlife-friendly often comes down to what’s adjacent to the facility, says kalies, meaning rural sites typically have better luck than urban, overdeveloped, already-degraded plots of land. 

challenges and limitations of building wildlife passageways

some of the biggest research-specific challenges for kalies’s team include accessing sites in the first place, finding partners willing to collaborate, and hours of challenging fieldwork. another difficulty lies in data interpretation. even with data from camera traps, for example, seeing an animal onsite doesn’t mean it’s necessarily benefitting. the animal could be migrating, breeding or nesting, foraging, lost, or simply hanging out. 

starr adds that, from a developer’s perspective, even if you support wildlife-friendly fencing,  you may get a ‘no’ from the county, from financiers, or from any long-term owners of the project who might consider wildlife a risk to their multi-million dollar asset. (some developers are even concerned about bird droppings reducing the efficiency of their solar panels.)

overall, the solar industry’s ability to become “wildlife-friendly” may depend on the level of discussion happening in government. “we need clear guidance and policymaking that incentivizes these kinds of considerations,” said starr.

the future of wildlife-friendly solar 

despite these challenges, pursuing wildlife-friendly solar in north carolina may be a promising step toward preserving biodiversity. the state ranks the 13th highest in the nation for risk of species loss. while wildlife movement patterns are being studied in the western u.s. (such as pronghorn migration), more research is needed on patterns in eastern states.

the first step to preserving biodiverse populations is ensuring that animals can continue to move freely across landscapes. through siting adjustments, permeable fencing, planting wildflower pollinator habitat, and actively collaborating with scientists, the solar industry has a chance to protect wildlife. energy developers and biologists alike can take part in this initiative, giving a new meaning to “energy conservation.”