North Star Solar, a 100MW project near North Branch, MN, became the largest solar site in the Midwest upon its completion in 2016, generating enough energy to power 20,000 homes. MNL has been a key player in this project from the early stages, collaborating with the developer and Minnesota DNR to develop suitable seed mixes comprising entirely native species. Over 110 acres of diverse pollinator seed mix were planted, creating long-term pollinator-friendly habitat in an area dominated by row-crop agriculture.
Site preparation, including soil decompaction and weed control, took place in the summer of 2016, followed by seeding in the fall. Ongoing vegetation maintenance services, such as mowing, weed and tree control, and sheep grazing, have been employed. Since 2020, MNL has primarily managed vegetation at North Star using sheep, deploying the largest solar sheep flock on the largest grazed solar project in the upper Midwest.
Features:
- Diverse seed mix
- Site preparation
- Sheep grazing
Completed:
2020
Benefits:
- Reduce fire fuel loads
- Reducing vegetation height
- Increasing vegetation diversity
- Increasing nutrient cycling promotes healthier soils
Partners:
