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Agrivoltaic Farm Project in Virginia Hosts Solar, Sheep and 500,000 Bees

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04 Jun, 2025

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

In Halifax County, Virginia, a futuristic farm is taking shape, where a 65-megawatt solar farm is sharing space with grazing lambs and a 10-hive apiary that is home to 500,000 bees.

The bees are taking flight at Crystal Hill Solar, an agrivoltaic site with the capacity to power 10,800 homes per year, according to the operator, Urban Grid. The farm spans 620 acres, and the new apiary will be positioned near an edge of the land, CleanTechnica reported.

Urban Grid said the 10-hive apiary, developed in partnership with Siller Pollinator Company, is expected to produce around 400 pounds of honey per year, with some of the honey being distributed to local schools, food banks and faith-based organizations.

The solar farm already accommodates lamb, which graze on the site to help maintain it and reduce the need for mowing, in partnership with Gray’s Lambscaping. According to Gray’s Lambscaping, the lambs can help cut mowing needs by more than half. 

As CleanTechnica reported, the lambs benefit from the grazing as well as additional shade provided by the solar panels.

“For more than a year, we’ve been grazing sheep on this facility to manage vegetation in a way that supports soil health and agricultural viability,” Val Newcomb, vice president of economic and community development at Urban Grid, said in a statement. “While Crystal Hill Solar quietly delivers much-needed power to the Commonwealth, local farmers there have been raising grass-fed lamb and helping to build a new sheep economy in southern Virginia. Honey production adds another layer of agricultural value to this site, deepening our connection to the land and community.”

With the addition of the apiary, the project will also become a research site, with experts from Siller Pollinator Company and Urban Grid studying the impacts, on both pollinators and vegetation, of adding pollinators to an agrivoltaic site. Near the hives, Sillar Pollinator Company plans to plant three acres of rotational crops for research purposes.

“We’ll be analyzing pollen to identify what species bees are foraging, measuring vegetation changes over time and comparing site conditions near and far from the hives,” said Allison Wickham, founding farmer at Siller Pollinator Company. “This kind of research can help shape smarter, more sustainable solar land use across the country and provide greater opportunities to a wider range of farmers and land managers.”

Urban Grid will then use the research to develop similar agrivoltaic projects elsewhere using optimized planting, pollinator and solar installations based on the data.

While Urban Grid is supporting agrivoltaic expansion through private partnerships, farmers hoping to pursue similar projects may face challenges in securing federal grants after the USDA froze REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) funding earlier this year. The USDA in March announced it would only approve applicants who revised their proposals to remove “DEIA and Far-Left Climate Features” from their applications.

A recent report by the nonprofit Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) found that under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has canceled more than $14 billion in clean energy projects, further threatening expansions for agrivoltaics and other renewable energy sources.

The post Agrivoltaic Farm Project in Virginia Hosts Solar, Sheep and 500,000 Bees appeared first on EcoWatch.

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City of Gosnells retains Gold for Waterwise initiatives

City of Gosnells retains Gold for Waterwise initiatives

The City of Gosnells has once again earned Gold Waterwise accreditation from the Water Corporation, recognising its strong commitment to sustainable water management.

Director of Infrastructure Martyn Glover was also honoured with an inaugural Waterwise Champion Award for his leadership in water efficiency initiatives.

The Gold Waterwise accreditation acknowledges WA local governments that demonstrate leadership in sustainable water management. The new Waterwise Champion Award celebrates individuals who demonstrate passion, creativity and leadership to drive change in water efficiency.

Mayor Terresa Lynes congratulated Glover on his achievement.

“Martyn has been a driving force behind the City’s efforts toward holistic and integrated water cycle management, green space planning and the Smart Drainage program, making him a worthy recipient of this award,” she said.

Martyn Glover with his Waterwise Champion Award. Image: Supplied.

Lynes said retaining the Gold Waterwise accreditation was a huge success given Perth had experienced record dry weather in the past two years.

“Our climate is getting drier each year, which makes this Gold Waterwise accreditation even more important,” she said. “By thinking carefully about where the City uses water and how we can make that more efficient and effective, the City continues to improve our environment while saving ratepayer dollars.”

Key initiatives contributing to the City’s recognition include:

planting over 1100 trees and 3000 understorey plants in Canning Vale with support from a $115,000 Urban Greening Grant;
promoting waterwise gardening through community programs like Plants for Local giveaway and a demonstration garden at Amherst Village Community Centre;
upgrading Mary Carroll Park to enhance community connection to water;
implementing irrigation efficiencies and the award-winning Smart Drainage project.
 

Top image caption: City of Gosnells retains Gold Waterwise status. Image: Supplied.

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