Federal Government to provide funding for solar energy projects on irrigation canals

– $19.5 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda allocated for solar panels in irrigation canals
– $15 million awarded to San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority for Delta-Mendota Canal Floating Solar Project in California
– Projects in California, Oregon, and Utah funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to study and implement solar panels on water conveyance facilities

U.S. Representative Jared Huffman announced $19.5 million in funding to install solar panels in irrigation canals as part of an initiative to study water efficiency gains and clean energy production for future implementation. $15 million of this funding is allocated to the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority for the Delta-Mendota Canal Floating Solar Project. The projects in California, Oregon, and Utah are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Representative Huffman helped craft.

The goal of these projects is to combat climate change and transition to clean energy. Solar panels on canal systems increase efficiency, reduce carbon footprint, and minimize water loss from evaporation. The projects involve collaborations between public, private, and academic partners to assess impacts, costs, and benefits of floating solar technologies.

Installing solar panels in irrigation canals has various benefits, including reducing evaporation losses, increasing solar energy production, saving land for agricultural use, and reducing maintenance needs. These projects are part of a larger effort to invest in water infrastructure projects, including rural water, conservation, dam safety, and desalination, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Representative Huffman’s legislation and public input have influenced the funding and implementation of these innovative projects.

Source link