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Solar farms and hydroseeding are two modern day solutions to age old environmental problems. Solar farms seek to combat the problem of increased greenhouse gas emissions by producing clean, renewable energy for their communities. Hydroseeding seeks to combat the problem of increased soil loss from erosion. The layer of grass grown from hydroseeding protects the soil from being so easily washed away by rain and blown away by wind, thus protecting the environment. For a more complete picture, let’s take a closer look at how these two work both independently and hand-in-hand to protect the environment.

 

How Solar Farms Protect the Environment

Solar farms, also known as solar parks or solar plants, are plots of land with many solar panels installed that harvest renewable energy from the sun. The large array of photovoltaic solar panels are able to harness a significant amount of clean energy directly from the sun by absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity. That electricity can then be used to power homes, businesses, and more.

The process of harnessing solar energy at a solar farm protects the environment in several key ways. One of these ways is by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gasses are harmful to the environment because they trap heat from the sun inside the earth’s atmosphere. When this heat cannot escape, it further heats the earth, which can cause problems for the environment, such as reduced soil fertility. Solar farms produce clean energy which does not emit greenhouse gasses.

 

How Hydroseeding Protects the Environment

Hydroseeding also protects the environment in a multitude of ways. For starters, hydroseeding is commonly used for erosion control. From job sites to homes to highways, soil erosion from heavy rainfall and strong winds is a common occurrence everywhere. Soil erosion is harmful to the environment because runoff often finds its way into nearby water sources, including ponds, streams, rivers, and even the ocean. This soil runoff can carry pesticides, fertilizers, bacteria, and other harmful chemicals. When runoff reaches a water source, it can contaminate it and damage the environment, affecting plant and animal life. 

Erosion control is an important part of protecting the environment for several reasons. By keeping these harmful pollutants out of water sources, erosion control, including hydroseeding, keeps the animal and plant life that depend on the water safe. Another harmful effect of erosion that hydroseeding and erosion control protect against is soil loss. According to the USDA, soil loss costs United States’ land owners over $44 billion dollars annually. By locking soil in place, hydroseeding is very effective at stopping soil loss. 

Hydroseeding is able to control erosion and prevent soil loss by growing a network of deep grass roots in the soil. These roots then hold the soil in place, even in the midst of heavy rain and strong winds. Hydroseeding starts by spraying a hydroseeding slurry over the designated area. This hydroseeding slurry is a mixture of local grass seeds, fertilizer, mulch, and water. The slurry then gives way a beautiful layer of strong, green grass. 

 

How Hydroseeding & Solar Farms Work Together

Hydroseeding for erosion control works hand in hand with solar farms to protect the environment by preventing erosion and soil loss on the solar farm itself. Solar farms can be prone to accelerated soil erosion because of the framework of equipment that is installed for the solar panels. By using hydroseeding to grow a strong and deep-rooted layer of grass on the grounds of a solar farm, solar farm operators are able to lock in the soil on their solar farm, saving themselves the massive financial cost of soil loss and the potential fines from environmental damage.

Solar farms all across the Southeast are turning to hydroseeding as their erosion control solution, making them a dream team for protecting the environment together. Hydroseeding has become the go-to option for protecting solar farms in Alabama and Georgia from erosion because hydroseeding is cost effective, can be used in all environments, and most of all, because it works!

 

Burns Environmental: Hydroseeding For Solar Farms

When solar farm operators in Alabama and Georgia are looking for an erosion control solution, they can turn to the hydroseeding experts at Burns Environmental. Burns has over a decade of experience at effectively and efficiently controlling erosion for commercial and residential projects. 

If you are looking to protect the environment and prevent the costly effects of erosion on your property or solar farm in Alabama or Georgia, contact Burns Environmental today, or give us a call for more information or any questions about hydroseeding and solar farms!

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