Report on Sustainable Solar Development and Soil Health

Introduction

A report issued by the Center for Rural Affairs on July 30, 2025, provides critical guidance on integrating soil health conservation with the expansion of solar energy projects. Titled “Soil Health in Solar Development,” the fact sheet outlines strategies for developers, landowners, and communities to ensure that solar installations contribute positively to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by protecting land resources, preventing erosion, and preserving long-term agricultural viability.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The recommended practices for solar development directly support the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The synergy between renewable energy and land stewardship addresses several interconnected goals.

SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) & SDG 13 (Climate Action)

• Solar projects are fundamental to achieving SDG 7 by increasing the share of renewable energy in the global mix.
• By establishing native vegetation, solar sites can enhance carbon sequestration in the soil, directly contributing to the climate mitigation objectives of SDG 13.
• Sustainable site management ensures that the deployment of clean energy does not inadvertently cause environmental degradation.

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) & SDG 15 (Life on Land)

• The report emphasizes practices that protect soil health, which is crucial for maintaining the long-term productivity of agricultural land, a core target of SDG 2.
• By preventing soil erosion, preserving topsoil, and promoting biodiversity through native plantings, these methods directly address SDG 15’s aim to halt and reverse land degradation.
• The guidance ensures that land utilized for solar energy can be returned to agricultural production, securing future food systems.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) & SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

• Dual-use solar systems promote responsible and efficient land use patterns, a key principle of SDG 12.
• By enabling continued agricultural activity, such as grazing or cropping, these projects support the economic resilience of rural communities, aligning with the objectives of SDG 11.

Key Recommendations for Sustainable Solar Site Construction

The Center for Rural Affairs outlines three primary strategies for developing solar sites with soil conservation as a central objective. Alex Delworth, a senior policy associate, notes, “Well-designed solar development can protect the long-term viability of agricultural land that is used for solar sites.”

Low-Impact Construction Methodologies

To minimize soil disruption during the construction phase, the report recommends departing from conventional methods that involve stripping topsoil and extensive grading. Key practices include:

1. Preserving the topsoil layer on-site.
2. Avoiding extensive land grading by adapting panel leg height to the natural contours of the terrain.
3. Utilizing construction techniques that minimize soil compaction.

Establishment of Native Vegetation

The use of deep-rooted, perennial native plants as ground cover is identified as a critical component for long-term site stability and ecological health. The benefits include:

1. Controlling soil erosion by anchoring soil with extensive root systems.
2. Improving water infiltration and minimizing stormwater runoff.
3. Enhancing soil carbon storage, contributing to climate action goals.
4. Providing superior ecological benefits compared to traditional turfgrass or gravel covers.

Implementation of Dual-Use Solar Systems

The report highlights the value of co-locating agricultural activities with solar energy generation, a practice also known as agrivoltaics. This approach ensures land remains in productive agricultural use while generating clean energy. Examples include:

1. Integrating livestock grazing, such as sheep, among the solar arrays.
2. Cultivating shade-tolerant crops or pollinator habitats beneath the panels.
3. Maintaining and enhancing soil health through continued agricultural management.

Conclusion

The guidance presented in “Soil Health in Solar Development” demonstrates a clear pathway for aligning the expansion of renewable energy with foundational goals for environmental stewardship and food security. By adopting low-impact construction, establishing native vegetation, and implementing dual-use systems, solar projects can serve as models of sustainable development, simultaneously advancing goals for clean energy (SDG 7), climate action (SDG 13), zero hunger (SDG 2), and life on land (SDG 15).

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  • The article focuses on maintaining “long-term agricultural productivity” and ensuring that land used for solar sites can be “returned to agricultural production.” It also promotes “dual-use solar practices” like co-locating solar panels with agriculture, such as “grazing livestock or growing crops,” which directly supports food production systems.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • The entire context of the article is the growth of “solar energy projects across the U.S.” It provides guidance for the development of this clean energy source, aiming to make its implementation more sustainable.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • The article mentions that establishing native vegetation on solar sites “helps store carbon in the soil,” which is a direct climate change mitigation strategy.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • A primary theme is protecting terrestrial ecosystems. The article provides guidance to “protect soil health,” “reduce erosion,” and prevent land degradation. It advocates for “low-impact construction practices that minimize soil disruption” and the use of “deep-rooted perennial native plants” to anchor soil, contrasting with methods that involve “topsoil stripping, soil compaction, and vegetation removal.”

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that… progressively improve land and soil quality.

  • The article directly addresses this by outlining methods to “protect soil health” and “maintain long-term agricultural productivity” on land used for solar development. The goal of returning land to agricultural use and the promotion of dual-use agriculture align with creating resilient agricultural practices.

• Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

  • The article’s premise is the ongoing growth of “solar energy projects,” which contributes to increasing the share of renewable energy. The guidance provided aims to facilitate this growth in a sustainable manner.

• Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

  • The fact sheet’s recommendations are explicitly designed to prevent land degradation. It contrasts “low-impact construction” (preserving topsoil, avoiding grading) with conventional methods that cause “topsoil stripping” and “soil compaction,” directly contributing to the goal of a land degradation-neutral approach in development.

• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats.

  • By advocating for the establishment of “native vegetation” instead of “turfgrass or gravel ground cover,” the article promotes practices that support local ecosystems and reduce the degradation of the land’s natural state during and after the solar project’s lifecycle.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

• Indicator (Implied): Proportion of agricultural land under productive and sustainable agriculture.

  • The article implies this indicator through its focus on “dual-use solar practices,” where land is used for both energy and agriculture (“grazing livestock or growing crops”), and the ability to “return the land to agricultural production” after a project’s life. Measuring the acreage under such practices would track progress.

• Indicator (Implied): Progress towards sustainable land management.

  • The article implies measuring the adoption rate of the recommended practices. This includes tracking the use of “low-impact construction methods,” the preservation of “topsoil,” the establishment of “native vegetation,” and the reduction of “stormwater runoff” on solar development sites.

• Indicator (Implied): Soil carbon stock.

  • The article explicitly states that using native vegetation “helps store carbon in the soil.” Measuring the change in soil carbon content on these sites would be a direct indicator of progress towards this co-benefit of sustainable solar development.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: morningagclips.com