A new trend among irrigation districts is the construction of small hydropower facilities inside their existing irrigation systems. Renewable energy generated by rushing water is one of the earliest innovations of irrigation use, but it is becoming economically feasible for even small districts to employ this innovative technique and produce clean electricity.

Swalley Irrigation District has implemented a signature water conservation and hydropower project. In conjunction with piping 5 miles of its main canal, the District constructed a small in-conduit hydroelectric plant capable of producing enough clean, renewable electricity to power up to 350 homes.