Rare Desert Plant Thrives at Nevada Solar Farm

A rare desert plant is proving that solar energy development doesn't have to mean sacrificing fragile ecosystems. At Nevada's Gemini Solar Project near Las Vegas, a critically endangered species is actually doing better than expected, growing bigger and healthier among the solar panels than in nearby undisturbed habitat.

The star of this conservation success story is threecorner milkvetch, a rare plant considered for federal endangered species protection. Before construction began in 2018, researchers found only 12 plants on the site.

Two years after the solar panels went up, ecologist Tiffany Pereira from the Desert Research Institute counted 93 plants thriving between the panels. Even more surprising, these plants were bigger in every measurement: taller, wider, with more flowers and fruits than plants growing in natural desert nearby.

The secret lies in how the Gemini Solar Project was built. Most large solar farms use "blade and grade" construction, which tears up plants and destroys the precious seed bank hidden in desert soil. Gemini chose gentler construction methods that preserved the soil and seeds beneath.

Pereira suspects the solar panels themselves might be helping the plants thrive. The soil at Gemini retains moisture longer after rainstorms, giving thirsty desert plants extra time to soak up precious water.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery offers a blueprint for balancing America's clean energy goals with protecting vulnerable desert ecosystems. The Southwest's sweeping landscapes are home to countless species adapted to extreme conditions, and large solar installations have raised concerns about habitat loss.

Gemini's approach shows that with careful planning, renewable energy projects can coexist with nature rather than replace it. The threecorner milkvetch's remarkable comeback from a seed bank that survived construction proves desert plants are tougher than many assumed.

Pereira notes there are still tradeoffs to understand. Her team found only one plant growing in the shaded area directly under solar panels, suggesting the species may be limited to spaces between panels. She plans continued monitoring to see if these positive results hold over time.

The research matters beyond one plant species. Desert ecosystems across the Southwest face pressure from both climate change and renewable energy development. Finding construction methods that preserve habitat while generating clean power solves two problems at once.

With fossil fuel-free solar energy powering Las Vegas while a critically endangered plant flourishes at its source, Gemini proves clean energy and conservation can be allies, not enemies.