Submitted photoSolar honey began with a solar array in Ramsey owned by Connexus Energy, but the project continues to spread across the state and the nation, including to the Forest Lake area.
In May of 2016, Gov. Mark Dayton signed the Pollinator Friendly Solar Act that laid out voluntary standards for the planting of prairie grasses and wildflowers in the land under and around solar arrays. This legislation drew the attention of Travis and Chiara Bolton of the St. Paul-based Bolton Bees, and their interest has translated to a new honey collection operation on the border of Forest Lake and Scandia.
“With solar companies becoming pollinator friendly with the land around their arrays, it only made sense that the space should be utilized for honey production,” Chiara Bolton said. “The panels don’t affect the honey and the land has in the past been very underutilized.”broadstreet.zone(48036);
The Boltons initially teamed with Connexus Energy at
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