Floating Solar Links Water Savings and Upgrades

The Medford Irrigation District has opened Oregon’s first floating solar project, a roughly 1.

8-acre array of more than 1,700 panels on a reservoir in Jackson County. The 800-kilowatt installation is expected to generate about $75,000 annually, reduce evaporation by approximately 1.5 million gallons, and support replacement of open canals with enclosed pipes. The project also extends community-solar access, while engineers and regulators monitor impacts on aquatic habitat, equipment durability, and reservoir conditions.