On its surface, floating solar appears to conserve water while generating carbon-free electricity. River managers are cautious, but some say the West canāt afford to wait.By Jake BolsterGILA RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION, Ariz.āAbout 33 miles south of Phoenix, Interstate 10 bisects a line of solar panels traversing the desert like an iridescent snake. The solar farmās shape follows the path of a canal, with panels serving as awnings to shade the gently flowing water from the unforgiving heat and wind of the Sonoran Desert.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: August 18, 2025 04:13 PM
Atmospheric COā
425.4 ppm
+18.4
ppm/year
Atmospheric CHā
1934.91 ppb
+9.11
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 Ā°C
Peak: +1.73Ā°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year