1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

An experimental linear solar farm is being built to shade the Via Rhôna bike path along the Rhône River in Caderousse, France. The Ophélia project is small at just 1 MW of capacity, but is pioneering an innovative new transmission system using high-voltage direct current to minimize losses from the longer distances between solar panels and electrical substations. Explicitly incentivizing linear photovoltaics in the U.S. - or just adding a few lines to Oregon legal codes to clarify that linear solar farms would be included in state-level rebate programs and allowed by state regulations - could help empower our communities, companies, and co-ops to roll out linear solar farms like the Ophélia project, enabling future innovations. Please research and support technical innovations that can improve our lives, and the planet’s health. Thank you for your continued good work!