The Quest for Widespread Use: Solar Panels Over Canals – Unraveling the Mystery
DENVER — Cast your mind back to 2015, and you’ll remember California grappling with its fourth consecutive year of debilitating drought. In response, then-Governor Jerry Brown took bold action, mandating an unprecedented 25 percent reduction in-home water use. Even farmers, known for their substantial water consumption, voluntarily stepped up to evade more stringent, obligatory cuts.
But it wasn’t just water conservation that concerned Governor Brown; he recognized the urgency of combating climate change as well. He set an ambitious target for California to derive 50 percent of its energy from renewable sources, aiming to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Enter Jordan Harris and Robin Raj, two visionaries with a revolutionary idea that could address both water loss and climate pollution simultaneously — installing solar panels over irrigation canals. It seemed like the perfect solution: utilizing the vast surface area of canals to generate clean, renewable energy while simultaneously reducing water evaporation and conserving precious resources.
However, despite the noble intentions and the potential to create a win-win scenario, Harris and Raj faced an uphill battle when they embarked on a mission to rally support for their concept. Knocking on doors and pitching their idea, they encountered skepticism and reluctance from those who were hesitant to take the leap.
Fast forward eight years to the present, and the landscape has dramatically shifted. The impacts of climate change have become all too real, with devastating heatwaves and record-breaking wildfires becoming the new normal. Additionally, the Colorado River faces a looming crisis, underscoring the urgency of finding sustainable water management solutions.
Amid these challenges, there’s a silver lining — a growing commitment to combat climate change and embrace renewable energy alternatives. Thanks to persistent advocacy, relentless movement-building, and mounting awareness of the need for innovative solutions, Harris and Raj’s company, Solar AquaGrid, is now on the verge of a groundbreaking achievement.
Their perseverance has paid off, and Solar AquaGrid is set to embark on the first-ever solar-covered canal project in the United States. The venture promises to be a game-changer, not only in harnessing clean energy but also in curbing water evaporation from canals, thus preserving vital water resources.
As Solar AquaGrid prepares to break ground on this transformative project, it serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the future. It showcases the power of determination and the potential for impactful change when driven by a vision to create a sustainable and resilient world.
The journey of Solar AquaGrid exemplifies how innovative ideas, coupled with perseverance and a collective commitment to addressing climate challenges, can pave the way for a brighter, greener future. With this groundbreaking initiative, they are positioning themselves at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution, and the ripples of their success are likely to be felt far beyond the banks of the Colorado River.
