Published 12:04 pm Tuesday, February 17, 2026
By Jason Chaney
Ochoco Irrigation District (OID) has found a new way to generate revenue and electricity at the same time – and it doesn’t involve a dam.
The district will instead pursue a floating solar project.
“It is really a solar project like most other solar projects, except to minimize impacts, it’s going to be placed on a pond,” explained District Manager Bruce Scanlon.
OID owns property below Ochoco Reservoir, a sizeable pond, Scanlon went on to say. The array will float on about 3 acres of that pond.
“Because it sits on the pond, it doesn’t take up any irrigable ground – it just floats on the water,” he said. “It also reduces the amount of evaporation on that pond, and it improves the water quality because there isn’t as much algae growth.”
Floating solar projects are not common in the U.S., although other countries have utilized the option, so it’s not a completely new way to generate electricity.
“You will see large floating solar arrays on big reservoirs and lakes in other countries,” he said.
Nevertheless, Scanlon believes this form of power generation will catch on in the future. In fact, other irrigation districts have created solar collecting canopies over their canals. However, OID will not likely consider that option.
“We are unlikely to engage in that because it is more of a permanent structure, and we have to clean our canals on a regular basis,” he said. “With a floating system, you can just lift it out and clean it, and then put it back in the non-irrigation season.”
In addition to generating revenue for the irrigation district and providing a local source of renewable energy (900 kilowatts), the project will benefit families who struggle to keep up with rising power costs.
“We are subscribing to the Community Solar Program,” Scanlon said. “Certain low-income households in the area can sign up for that program and get reduced energy bills. Some local commercial operations can benefit from it as well.”
When OID pursued a hydroelectric project on Bowman Dam, the effort included partnerships with the city of Prineville and Crook County. While the partners have changed with floating solar, the district is once again working with other entities to move the project forward. They include the Farmers Conservation Alliance and Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
“We have several partners that are involved in it so far,” Scanlon said.
Along with the partnerships, the new project will benefit from a recent award of federal funds. Congress recently approved money for a variety of projects throughout Oregon, and $1 million is going to the floating solar project.
“That helps to put the project in motion,” Scanlon said, noting that the district is now putting paperwork together, and the project will likely go out to bid soon. “We appreciate Sens. (Jeff) Merkley and (Ron) Wyden for putting us in their community projects.”

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