Pollinators like bees and butterflies are critical to the health of our ecosystems and essential to producing many of the foods we love.
Pollinators are responsible for as much as one third of food we consume! Unfortunately, populations of pollinating insects are declining and some formerly common species are now at risk of extinction. There are many reasons for pollinator decline, but habitat loss is one key factor.
Gulf fritillary
Long-horned bee
Gray hairstreak
Hawkmoth
TVA is playing an important role in slowing or even reversing this decline by encouraging native wildflowers and grasses on transmission line rights of way and other lands. Specifically, we create and maintain habitat for pollinators by:
A father-son duo's discovery of frosted elfins, an endangered butterfly species, in a TVA right of way area is helping lead the way to grassland conservation efforts.
Two TVA scientists received an EPRI award for their documentary film Power for Pollinators, which showcases how power companies are working to conserve pollinator species and habitats.
Trotter Bluff Small Wild Area is a perfect place for a short, wooded hike along the water. It soon will have another claim to fame as a home to a colorful collection of flowers and grasses that will help feed hungry pollinators.
Pollinators — beautiful, important links in our food chain — find themselves welcome at the Collins River Prairie, a peaceful oasis beneath power lines.
Transmission line rights of way can be great habitat for pollinators! A three-year study found TVA rights of way supported 13-16 times more bees than the surrounding forest. From EPRI Journal.
Learn how TVA incorporated biodiversity into a large construction project by preserving a meadow habitat for the bees, birds and butterflies.
Click to view a live map and the pollinator dashboard.
TVA participates in Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Power-in-Pollinator initiative, which collects information about what various utilities are doing on-the-ground to protect pollinators in order to show the collective result of these efforts.
View a map, photos and details of these pollinator projects on the EPRI Pollinator Stewardship Dashboard. Note: To only view TVA's projects, filter the Company by "Tennessee Valley Authority".