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Utah representatives, including Rep. Hoang Nguyen, are advocating for floating solar panels on the Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake to reduce evaporation and generate electricity. The proposal, supported by Water Wise Solar Solutions, has drawn bipartisan interest but no legislation has been proposed yet.

The Great Salt Lake loses nearly 3 million acre-feet to evaporation annually. Floating solar could generate up to 1 gigawatt of power. While there are concerns about wildlife impacts and recreation, proponents argue it could aid in water conservation and lower temperatures in lakes. Economic analyses are needed to assess the viability of such projects.