An initiative led by faculty from seven top research universities — six of which are in California — aims to accelerate the deployment of solar arrays over the state’s extensive canal network. According to a 2021 UC Merced study published in Nature Sustainability, covering large sections of the state’s 4,000 miles of canals with solar panels could help conserve water, reduce air pollution, save land and generate clean energy using existing land and infrastructure. The California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) research project aims to accelerate the deployment of solar canals across the state by equipping government agencies, utilities, community members and other interested parties with data on optimal locations and identifying willing host communities.

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