Governor Gavin Newsom announced on April 29 the launch of the state’s “first-of-its-kind” solar-covered canal.
The canal is part of California’s ‘Project Nexus,’ which aims to promote clean energy and conserve water.
Project Nexus will help California examine the ways “solar infrastructure can reduce water loss from evaporation, generate renewable energy, and improve overall system efficiency,” Newsom’s office noted in a statement.
Project Nexus further plans to look at how much water would be saved by reducing evaporation and if water quality would improve.
The solar-covered canal specifically will be used to test how this type of covering leads to clean electricity.
Researchers will examine how the new canal “keeps water from evaporating before it ever reaches a farm or a faucet and, if scaled further, helps strengthen the state’s water infrastructure to withstand a hotter, drier future.”
The $20 million Central Valley-based project is being funded by Governor Newsom and the state of California’s legislature.
The initiative is also being run by the California Department of Water Resources in partnership with Turlock Irrigation District, solar development organization SolarAquaGrid LLC, and University of California (UC) Merced.
Background Information
In 2021, University of California, Merced researchers released a study that would catch the attention of many.
This study, led by scientist Dr. Brandi Mckuin, detailed how covering canals with solar panels would generate enough electricity to power approximately 2 million houses annually.
The report also said that the canals could conserve enough water to give to 2 million homes per year and could substantially limit land use by placing solar arrays on developed areas.
The study caught the attention of Governor Newsom and other state officials, and Project Nexus was launched the following year in 2022.
Since then, alongside their Project Nexus partners, Dr. Brandi Mckuin and fellow researchers have taken the time to construct a solar-covered canal that could achieve the goals described in their 2021 study.
“We didn’t just want to build a canopy to produce electricity; we wanted to quantify a ‘triple win’ for California: water, energy, and land,” Roger Bales, professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering, said in a press release issued by UC Merced.
It is a great proof of government to see this happening. We get research from the UC system. We get leadership from the governor and others. We get political buy in from the legislature. One might complain about how long this takes to happen but that is in almost all cases salutary. (Consider the Trump Ballroom Fiasco for an example of the opposite of all of the above.)
very interesting idea! like many other CA projects in work, it’ll be wayyyyy over budget
Great idea, this is a step forward. But its not being funded by Governor Newsom and the state of California’s legislature. It’s being funded by tax payers.
You obviously don’t understand how government works.
FERNALD – also, Christmas is in December every year. 🙄
Finally something I’m excited about my hard earned money being used for!
That’s so effing stupid. The language means that our elected representatives made the choice to fund this project.
https://theconversation.com/government-funds-are-not-taxpayer-money-media-and-politicians-should-stop-confusing-the-two-153195
“Taxpayers don’t own their taxes
Richard Murphy, one of the founders of the UK’s Tax Justice Network and author of The Joy of Tax, explains that “taxpayers’ money” is the money left in our pockets after we have paid taxes that are legally due. Money payable through taxes is the government’s property.
This is quite easy to prove — try not paying your income tax and see if the courts will enforce government property rights in that money.”
Taxes are your dues for living in civil society. Once you pay your dues, the dues aren’t your money.
P.S. The downvoters ought to go live in Somalia.
Is this actually going to come to fruition or is it going to be another project scam, robbing us of our tax money? When will we get the $450 million back that was spent on the new 911 system over 6 years that failed? When will we get back our tax money for the billions that were spent on the high-speed rail project with almost no track to show for it? To add insult to injury, the fiancee of the highspeed rail project CEO who was arrested for fraud, just landed a $24 million contract with the project. The company is KPMG – one of the “big 4” accounting firms that’s supposed to audit this mess. Now the CEOs own fiancee works there while the project bleeds billions. This is peak CA corruption. Insane conflicts of interest.
Deakbs – Man, if you hate waste, corruption, fraud, and inefficiency, you should “research” how Trump and his band of jolly sycophants are destroying the country and handing the keys over to China and Russia. The MAGA GOP is a cancerous cesspool of corruption at the highest level.
Getting money back for infrastructure projects is an interesting fantasy. Flying pigs next?
Steve, You could live anywhere you want in California, yet you live in Lompoc. Is that actually by choice?
How about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s FI$Cal fiasco?
“FI$Cal was never fully restarted. Instead, it was declared “complete” by legislation in 2022 after 17 years and over $1 billion in spending, even though it failed to implement all promised functions and complex departments remained unintegrated.”
I hate to break it to you RWers with hyperactive amygdalas but governing a vast state like CA is difficult and not everything always goes perfectly, and not every failure is a scam. If you’re looking for scams, check Trump’s pardons under his “No MAGA left behind” policy … we’re talking about $2 billion worth of fraud that not only is going unpunished but the fraudsters get to keep the loot.
If you want your tax money back then talk to your tax attorney … but they will tell you that no, you cannot steal it from the contractors and workers who were paid for their efforts.
As for your rant about the HSR project KPMG, it’s a pack of lies, twisting the facts. Let’s ask Gemini:
Here are the key facts regarding the situation:
The Arrest:
Ian Choudri, who was appointed CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority in August 2024, was arrested on February 4, 2026, at his home on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery. His fiancée, Lyudmyla Starostyuk, was also arrested on suspicion of the same offense and for alleged corporal punishment of a minor.
Charges Not Filed:
On February 17, 2026, it was reported that the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office would not file charges against either Choudri or Starostyuk due to insufficient evidence to determine a “dominant aggressor”.
The KPMG Connection:
Starostyuk was reportedly hired as an advisory manager at KPMG in early 2026. Records indicate that KPMG has a $24 million contract with the High-Speed Rail Authority for financial advisory services.
Conflict of Interest Concerns:
The timing of the hiring prompted scrutiny. However, a spokesperson for the rail authority stated: “KPMG has confirmed to the California High-Speed Rail Authority that Ms. Starostyuk has not performed work under the KPMG/Authority contract and that there are no plans for her to do so in the future”.
Defense Statement:
An attorney representing the couple stated that Starostyuk’s position at KPMG is “unrelated” and involves a completely different sector of business.
Return to Work:
After a review by the Authority and the California State Transportation Agency, the board asked Choudri to return to work on March 5, 2026, following a voluntary leave of absence.
Note: The user’s query mentioned the CEO was arrested for “fraud,” but the February 2026 reports indicate the arrest was for “domestic battery”.
Another waste and fail by the dems of Calif…
Another comment from a big zero showing no thinking ability whatsoever.
STEVE – if you’re going to sit here crying instead of working today, you should actually read the articles you’re wanking about.
This is a PROPOSED project. That means, it has not happened yet. How can something “fail” that hasn’t even started?
Also, let’s try exercising some of those (presumed) brain cells you may have: explain how solar power is a “waste.”
Can you? Nah.
Steve, You could live anywhere you want in California, yet you live in Lompoc. Is that actually by choice?
Nah, your existence isn’t the fault of CA Dems.
It’s a great idea, I hope it happens.