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

    • 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.

    • 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 But the dumbfucks growing fucking alfalfa use our rather esoteric and outdated water laws, atleast here in California.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.