1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

Fund large-scale solar investment now — the Great Salt Lake is dying, and the science shows solar can help reverse that. A study published in Science found that massive solar arrays in desert environments actually trigger rainfall and vegetation growth. The panels cool the sand beneath them, causing warm air to rise and form rainclouds, effectively greening barren land. That's not a side effect — that's a lifeline for a shrinking lake. The Great Salt Lake has lost over half its surface area in recent decades, threatening air quality, wildlife, and the regional economy. Solar infrastructure at scale could help restore the precipitation cycle this region desperately needs, while simultaneously advancing Utah's clean energy goals under the Paris Agreement framework. This is a rare case where climate investment pays off in multiple directions at once. Please prioritize funding for large-scale solar development in this region before the lake's decline becomes irreversible.