- A project to install solar panels over canals in Arizona is finally getting off the ground.
- The project could help save water and generate electricity.
- Will it encourage other states to follow suit?
Arizona is currently in the midst of the worst drought in the state’s history – 15 years long and counting. With devastating heat, record-breaking wildfires, a growing shortage of water in the Colorado River, and increased urgency in fighting climate change, Arizona is preparing to try something new.
The state will be installing solar panels over some of the 180 miles (289 kilometers) of water canals crisscrossing the state. These canal-top photovoltaics (CTPVs) will do double duty — reducing evaporation and producing electricity.
While the idea may seem obvious, it has not yet caught on in a big way. However, in addition to Arizona, there is a project beginning in California and a pilot project in Gujarat.
