We meet at and support local breweries throughout the near west Chicago suburbs — and occasionally venture farther afield when the beer (and good company) calls!

We believe meaningful change begins right here where we live. Green Drinks is your opportunity to build relationships, exchange ideas, and help shape a more sustainable future — one conversation (and one pint) at a time.

DATE+TIME: Monday, July 20th at 6:30 PM

LOCATION: Phase 3 Brewing - Elmhurst, 494 Spring Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126

TOPIC: Volts and Wildflowers: The Bright Future of Solar-Prairie Synergy

Ecovoltaics are ecologically-informed photovoltaic (PV) solar energy developments that co-prioritize electricity generation with ecosystem function. As a novel land management practice, foundational field research is paramount for understanding biodiversity responses and informing best management practices.

In the Midwest, ecovoltaic facility management on previous agricultural lands starts with planting of native grass and forb seed mixes including native prairie species. Management of weeds through mowing and selective removal over the first few growing seasons helps the habitat to establish. This presentation will feature our findings on the impacts of ecovoltaics in the Midwest on soil, insects, birds, and bats, based on research starting in 2018 and ongoing. We’ll also include observations on best management practices and discuss creation of native prairie habitat in your own yards. 

SPEAKERS: Heidi M. Hartmann and Lee Walston from Argonne National Laboratory

Heidi Hartmann has over 25 years of experience in evaluating the environmental effects of energy development and land management options, including human and ecological risk assessment. Heidi manages the Land Resources and Energy Policy Program in the Environmental Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. Over the last several years, a significant amount of her work has been focused on measuring the ecosystem services provided through soil and vegetation management at renewable and other energy development sites, including multi-year observations of pollinators at solar facilities in the Midwest U.S.

Lee Walston is an Ecologist and Department Head at Argonne National Laboratory. He has over 15 years of experience in efforts to better understand and minimize the ecological impacts of solar energy. For the past 7 years he has supported DOE-funded projects to evaluate the ecosystem service opportunities of solar energy dual land use practices. His work on solar energy has been covered by high-profile media outlets such as The New York Times, National Geographic, and Scientific American. In his spare time, Lee is usually weeding his backyard pollinator garden, fishing, or camping with his family. 

We look forward to seeing you there!