A $15 million grant from the federal government will fund a pilot program to build the first floating solar cells along the 117-mile long Delta-Mendota Canal.
The money from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will help the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, the Bureau and UC Merced study the impact of installing solar over the waterway, according to a Thursday news release from Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno).
President Joe Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act provided the funds.
“Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we are making groundbreaking investments to advance the integration of renewable energy into our water systems,” said Costa. “I’m proud to have led this effort in Congress to build drought resilience across California. Innovative projects like this will power local homes and save water from evaporation annually.”
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