Resilient Communities Webinar Series
How does solar development impact wildlife?
Explore how birds, bats, and pollinators interact with solar energy development. Drawing on real-world projects and research, speakers will discuss the ecological challenges and opportunities of solar development. This includes ecovoltaics, an approach to solar energy production that minimizes ecological impacts while supporting wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
Presenters
Tristan Barely, Ph.D. candidate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: How solar sites can provide habitat for native bees and honeybees, and policy approaches to support pollinator conservation.
Lee Walson, landscape ecologist, Argonne National Laboratory: How birds and bats interact with solar energy development, the implications for biodiversity, and opportunities to improve wildlife habitat at solar sites.
This webinar is the third in a three-part series answering top questions and concerns from local governments navigating solar development.
About the Resilient Communities Webinar Series
Resilient Communities presentations are a result of University of Illinois Extension and Prairie Rivers Network’s collaboration to build capacity for technical assistance and education aimed to help communities navigate energy- and environment-related funding opportunities, provide guidance on community inclusion, and lead community-specific strategic planning. This outreach can help communities secure and manage resources to address legacy pollution, invest in clean energy technologies, and more. This program is offered as part of the community and economic development team’s Local Government Education series in partnership with the natural resources, environment, and energy team.
For more information about the series, contact Linda Derhak at lderhak2@illinois.edu.