North Unit Irrigation District, which serves farmland east of Madras, is moving toward a landmark floating solar project on its main canal — a dual-purpose innovation that promises to generate renewable energy for PacifiCorp's distribution network while reducing water loss through evaporation at a time of intensifying drought pressure across Central Oregon.
The district secured a $2.55 million federal grant from the Department of the Interior to develop the floating photovoltaic system, which would install a network of solar panels directly on the surface of the North Unit main canal as it runs past Madras. The project had a target completion window of early 2026.
Why This Matters for Jefferson County
For a county heavily dependent on irrigated agriculture, the stakes of water conservation are high. The Deschutes Basin has faced increasing water rights conflicts and low snowpack years in recent seasons, and North Unit has long faced a junior water right position that makes it vulnerable during dry years.
Floating solar panels address both sides of the equation: they generate electricity while their shade cover reduces surface evaporation — potentially saving significant volumes of water over a full irrigation season. Early studies of similar installations nationwide suggest evaporation reductions of 10–70% depending on coverage.
Oregon's Floating Solar Wave
North Unit is part of a broader statewide movement. Oregon's first floating solar project — on a Medford Irrigation District reservoir — is now nearing operation through the state Community Solar Program, with more than 1,700 panels installed. Ochoco Irrigation District near Prineville is also building a floating solar array.
The Madras area is also notable for a separate $1 million Oregon Department of Energy grant to the City of Madras to construct a 1.14-megawatt floating solar system at its wastewater treatment facility, which is projected to generate over 1.8 million kilowatt-hours annually while reducing algae buildup.
Looking Ahead
If North Unit's project moves forward on schedule, it would represent one of the most significant agricultural infrastructure investments in Jefferson County in recent years — a model for how irrigation districts across the arid West can squeeze more value from the water and land they already manage.
For more information on the project, contact North Unit Irrigation District in Madras or visit the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART program page.