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

        • Cannibal_MoshpitV3@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          25
          ·
          11 months 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.

            • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              7
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              11 months 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
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                11 months 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
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  11 months 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
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          14
          ·
          edit-2
          11 months 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
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            11 months 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
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              11 months 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
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          11 months 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
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      19
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      11 months 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.

      • LostAndSmelly@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        It would be cheaper and easier to maintain separate instaaleions of a lightweight cover for the aquaduct and solar panel installed on solid ground. You could use the same money to add square miles of panels.