As the expansion of solar power spreads through much of the United States, members of the solar industry are working to change how solar energy facilities are designed and presented to the public. This includes the addition of habitat to conserve pollinators. We highlight and discuss ongoing efforts to couple solar energy production with pollinator conservation, noting recent legal definitions of these practices. We summarize key studies from the field of ecology, bee conservation, and our experience working with members of the solar industry (e.g., contribution to legislation defining solar pollinator habitat). Several recently published studies that employed similar practices to those proposed for solar developments reveal features that should be replicated and encouraged by the industry. These results suggest the addition of native, perennial flowering vegetation will promote wild bee conservation and more sustainable honey beekeeping. Going forward, there is a need for oversight and future research to avoid the misapplication of this promising but as of yet untested practice of coupling solar energy production with pollinator-friendly habitat. We conclude with best practices for the implementation of these additions to realize conservation and agricultural benefits.

中文翻译：

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太阳能可以为传粉媒介保护提供燃料吗？

随着太阳能在美国大部分地区的扩张，太阳能行业的成员正在努力改变太阳能设施的设计和向公众展示的方式。这包括增加栖息地以保护传粉媒介。我们强调并讨论了将太阳能生产与传粉媒介保护相结合的持续努力，并指出了这些做法的最新法律定义。我们总结了生态学、蜜蜂保护领域的关键研究，以及我们与太阳能行业成员合作的经验（例如，对定义太阳能传粉媒介栖息地的立法的贡献）。最近发表的几项研究采用了与太阳能开发建议类似的做法，揭示了行业应该复制和鼓励的特征。这些结果表明添加了原生，多年生开花植被将促进野蜂保护和更可持续的养蜂业。展望未来，需要进行监督和未来的研究，以避免滥用这种有前途但尚未经过检验的将太阳能生产与传粉媒介友好型栖息地相结合的做法。我们总结了实施这些补充以实现保护和农业效益的最佳实践。