The state of California has an ambitious plan for clean energy that would be the first of its kind in the US and builds on a nascent trend for sustainability projects worldwide.

A new state-funded pilot project starting this fall in the San Joaquin Valley will cover irrigation canals and aqueducts with solar panels in an effort to both save water and generate energy.

California isn’t alone in its eagerness to harness the sun as pressure surrounds sustainability efforts. Last year, Fort Bragg, located in North Carolina, installed the largest floating solar panel in the southeast to power one of its Special Forces training sites.

And today, there is a rise in developers and municipalities across the country looking to install solar farms atop capped landfills.

Bryan Thomas, JLL clean energy and infrastructure advisory vice president, says there is a lot of buzz around solar energy.

“Pressure from shareholders and stakeholders around sustainability and the Inflation Reduction Act are two primary drivers,” he says.

To help alleviate some of the cost pressure, the current US administration is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars of subsidies into clean energy under the Inflation Reduction Act, which increased tax credits and extends the time for these credits. The IRA also includes incentives for incorporating battery storage with solar, which enhances sustainability solutions.

“Space limitations and not wanting to take green space up make other options, such as putting solar panels on garage tops and moving to water and landfills, more appealing,” Thomas says. “Still, cost remains an obstacle.”