Mounting evidence suggeststhe western United States is now in its worst megadroughtin at least 1,200 years.
We call it the solar-canal solution, and its about to be tested in California.
About4,000 miles of canalstransport water to some 35 million Californians and 5.7 million acres of farmland across the state.
Thefirst prototypes in the U.S.for both wide-span and narrow-span canals are now in development in Californias Central Valley.
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Andrew Revkin ?
Now, the changing climate is bringing hotter, drier weather.
Severe droughts over the past 10 to 30 yearsdried up wells, caused officials to implementwater restrictionsand fueledmassive wildfires.
At the same time, California has ambitious conservation goals.
The state has a mandate toreduce groundwater pumpingwhile maintaining reliable supplies to farms, cities, wildlife andecosystems.
As part of a broad climate change initiative, in October 2020 Gov.
Thats why canals snake across the state its the largest such system in the world.
We are definitely still in a drought.
A completely dry January shows how quickly surpluses can disappear."
Karla Nemeth, DWR Director.
Installing solar panels over the canals makes both systems more efficient.
The solar panels would reduce evaporation from the canals, especially during hot California summers.
These canopies could alsogenerate electricity locallyin many parts of California, lowering bothtransmission lossesand costs for consumers.
This would mitigate the risk of power losses due to extreme weather, human error and wildfires.
We estimate that the cost to span canals with solar panels will be higher than building ground-mounted systems.
And this is before factoring in the human health benefits of improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar panels installed over canals increase the efficiency of both systems.
Solar canal installations will also protect wildlife, ecosystems and culturally important land.
They also canharm desert-scrub plant communities, including plants that are culturally important to Indigenous tribes.
Clearing the air and the weeds
By generating clean electricity, solar canals can improve air quality.
Another benefit is curbing aquatic weeds that choke canals.
Fighting these weeds is expensive, and herbicides threaten human health and the environment.
Statewide, savings could reach $69 million per year.
Artist rendering of a solar canal system for California.
This is an update ofan articleoriginally published on May 3, 2021.
