<
https://azmirror.com/briefs/gila-river-indian-community-turns-on-power-for-first-ever-solar-over-canal-project/>
"The Gila River Indian Community celebrated a historic milestone in its work to
provide solutions for water conservation and renewable energy by activating the
first-ever solar-over-canal project in the country.
“The Gila River Indian Community is proud to be at the forefront of this
groundbreaking solar-over-canal project, which not only generates renewable
energy but also conserves our most precious resource — water,” Gila River
Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said in a written statement.
The project spans over 2,700 linear feet of the Casa Blanca Canal, which is
located along Interstate 10 near Sacaton.
The tribe said the project represents a groundbreaking solution to the
intertwined crises of energy, water and climate change, specifically addressing
the unique needs of the Gila River Indian Community, the State of Arizona, the
southwest region and the Colorado River Basin.
“This project builds on the work of our ancestors, who found innovative ways to
harness our water and natural resources throughout the generations,” Lewis
said.
The Gila River Indian Community and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed an
agreement in 2023 to kick off the construction of the project, which is the
first phase of the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project Renewable Energy Pilot
Project.
The Gila River Indian Community held an event on Oct. 3 to commemorate
activating the power of the solar project near Sacaton and hosted federal
leadership: White House Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President Tom
Perez, Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo and U.S. Rep.
Greg Stanton.
The project is the first solar-over-canal initiative of its kind in the Western
Hemisphere, according to the tribe, and it is setting a new standard for
sustainable water and energy management.
“The Gila River Indian Community, known for its long-standing leadership in
water conservation and irrigation innovation, continues to pave the way for
cutting-edge solutions to the challenges of the 21st century,” the tribe
stated."
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-first-nations-oil-well-reclamation/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
