Amaia J. Gavica
Cronkite News
For 31 straight days last summer, temperatures in Phoenix hit or topped 110 degrees, the longest such streak ever. That searing Arizona heat dehydrates crops and evaporates water the state needs to conserve.Creating shade is one way to combat the problem.By using solar panels, farmers can simultaneously protect their plants, save water and lower their energy bills – and some are doing just that with help from federal programs designed to encourage this sustainable method of growing.Photovoltaic panels are placed above the crops, harnessing the sun’s energy while providing valuable shade.“The solar arrays … will help shade and help reduce our water use and improve our water-use efficiency, which is very important in places like New Mexico and Arizona,” said Derek Whitelock, supervisory agricultural engineer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Plants don’t need really as much sun as they get here in the West.”
…
See the full article on Arizona’s economic indicators, or, read more Arizona real estate investing news. Take your pick!
