Biden-Harris Administration Unveils $6 Million Solar Initiative Transforming Canals in Gila River Indian Community

In a landmark move, the Biden-Harris administration has unveiled a $5.65 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda for the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. The initiative aims to construct and install solar panels over the Casa Blanca Canal, a transformative project.

Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis expressed the significance of President Biden’s agenda, stating, “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is unlocking resources for new and innovative ways to combat the climate crisis, including simultaneously generating renewable energy and increasing water efficiency. In partnership with local stakeholders, the Interior Department will continue to invest in essential water infrastructure projects that mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and invest in communities across the country.”  

Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton commented, “We look forward to working with the Gila River Indian Community on this novel idea to conserve water and generate renewable energy with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Reclamation is working hard on projects that support water conservation and energy efficiency. This project will help inform similar projects to better understand their impacts and make that information publicly available so that we can all understand the scale and corresponding benefits they provide.”

The project, funded through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will see collaboration between the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and the Gila River Indian Community. The initiative involves covering 2,782 linear feet of the Casa Blanca canal with approximately 2,556 solar panels, anticipated to generate 1.31 megawatts of clean energy. This pilot project will serve as a five-year study period, providing crucial insights for future solar endeavors over the Gila River Indian Community’s 18.5 miles of canal.

The multifaceted benefits of solar panels over canals, include generating renewable energy, reducing evaporation losses, increasing solar panel efficiency, creating land savings, and minimizing facility maintenance. The project aligns with the Biden administration’s broader goals of combatting climate change and investing in resilient communities.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, regarded as the nation’s largest investment in climate resilience, addresses the pressing issue of drought and climate change in Western communities. The Inflation Reduction Act earmarked $25 million for projects covering water conveyance facilities with solar panels, with this announcement marking the inaugural award from this fund.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Reclamation is committing $8.3 billion over five years to various water infrastructure projects. This includes initiatives related to rural water, water storage, conservation and conveyance, nature-based solutions, dam safety, water purification and reuse, and desalination.

Notably, this funding aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate and clean energy investments reach disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by underinvestment and pollution.