Sign up by March 28 for Defenders' solar workshop
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will offer a workshop designed to bring solar farm developers together with experts in the field of native plantings.
Solar developers and landscaping firms will leave this session equipped with the know-how to be able to successfully design, plant and maintain a native plant community on their solar farm.
This session will help developers in the preparation of landscape plant lists and monitoring and maintenance plans required by local permitting authorities.
The workshop will be held from 7:15 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 4, at Luecht Conference Center, Building B, McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.
The keynote speaker will be Colleen Hollinger, Prairie Restoration Inc., Minnesota Experiences. She will speak on "Using Native Pollinator-Friendly Habitat Under Solar." She will discuss what has been learned in the past five years of the solar surge in the U.S., and the solar with native plant studies currently underway.
The presenters will be:
• Vince Mosca of Hey & Associates on "Preparing Effective Native Planting Specifications and RFPs for Solar Farms."
• Jack Pizzo of The Pizzo Group on "Seed and Plant Selection, Site Preparation and Installation Recommendations for Illinois Solar Farms."
• Bill Stoll of Applied Ecological Services on "Monitoring & Management Recommendations for Illinois Solar Farms."
• Jim Kleinwachter of The Conservation Foundation on "Inspiration from Turf to Prairie Conversions in Illinois."
Solar farm developers and owners, landscaping firms, government personnel overseeing solar farm installations, prairie and pollinator enthusiasts, solar energy advocates, anyone who wants to learn how to successfully plant Midwest prairie are invited to attend.
Register by Thursday, March 28, at goo.gl/forms/cCsgj5aNU2urmW383. Breakfast is available as part of registration. Solar developers and landscaping firms are invited to host a display table as part of their registration.
Call Environmental Defenders at (815) 338-0393 with questions.