Arizona’s solar-over-canal project will tackle its major drought issue::undefined

  • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    The economic viability of this solar-over-canal approach is a key aspect. The need to acquire additional land is eliminated by utilizing the existing canal infrastructure, making the project considerably more cost-effective than traditional solar farms. This cost efficiency is critical in ensuring the scalability and replicability of such projects on a larger scale.

      • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        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.

        • Cannibal_MoshpitV3@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          The influx of folks moving in from more expensive big city locations plus the general shift of young people rejecting conservative views even as they age is turning the state away from its traditionally republican voting tendencies as seen in recent elections.

          • PeleSpirit@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            It’s nice to see it changing for the better, it’s hard to parse from the outside looking in though. A lot of the old school r’s still live there, ig.

            • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              It do be like that (old ppl voting R). Plus for whatever reason they all want to be here before they die, so it’s a big stubborn aged community.

              Source: 🏡🏜

              • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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                1 year ago

                In my experience with my aged relatives, they all feel extra cold now and either crank the heat up or move south.

                • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  In the summer, “could you turn the A/C down a bit?” “why, you’re hot?” as it’s set to 85F…

        • abhibeckert@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          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.

          • Lemmygizer@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Or…hear me out… People don’t live in the damn desert and expect to have unlimited access to water.

            • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              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.

        • PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          I said that was California that painted their lawns. I lived in Arizona for a couple years, and I don’t even remember seeing lawns. But I lived in Tucson. Almost everyone had a xeriscaped yard.

    • Hugin@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s also a win win design. Shade from the panels reduces evaporation in the canals and the water helps cool the panels which improves their efficiency.