The Turlock Irrigation District has completed a $20 million solar canopy over canals, marking a milestone in generating clean energy and promising water savings in the Central Valley city. … ”It limits the light available for photosynthesis. So it could reduce the amount of aquatic weed growth, which is a major canal maintenance issue. It also saves land,” explained Brandi McKuin, a project scientist at UC Merced. … The team is working to quantify whether the benefits will outweigh the costs, considering water savings, reduced aquatic weed growth and land savings.