451
Arizona's solar-over-canal project will tackle its major drought issue
(interestingengineering.com)
this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
451 points (98.7% liked)
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It’s a really good idea
Arizona is a mixed bag, but I guess everywhere kind of is. They hire that crazy sheriff, that election craziness, and paint their lawns, but then do stuff like this.
Inflation adjusted... those canals cost $50 billion to construct and the project took decades. It would cost far more now, since getting access to the land rights would be a nightmare.
They're already not providing enough water, so if building more canals is your proposed solution then you needed to start construction 20 years ago.
Upgrading the canals can potentially double the amount of water they provide. It's far cheaper, and quicker, than building more canals.
Solar panels alone wouldn't get you to 2x efficiency but it'll help a lot, and unlike other upgrades it also provides ongoing revenue. It's an absolute no brainer to start with this and do other canal upgrades later, when every inch of the canals are already covered in panels.
Or...hear me out... People don't live in the damn desert and expect to have unlimited access to water.
Nobpdies expecting unlimited water access besides stupid farmers and stupid rich people. Phoenix for example has rather strict laws on population expansion because of this if memory serves me right. But the dumbfucks growing fucking alfalfa use our rather esoteric and outdated water laws, atleast here in California. Even rice would be better since the fields can serve triple as water foul refuge and fish spawning pools.