House Majority Leader Michael Carbone criticized Governor Hobbs’ newly released energy plan on June 12, saying it prioritizes utility-scale solar projects and green energy contractors over housing, taxpayers, and lower costs.
“Hobbs is calling this an all-of-the-above energy plan. It’s not,” Carbone said. “It’s a solar-heavy political plan that puts green industry insiders ahead of taxpayers, pushes utility-scale solar onto state land that could support badly needed housing, and says nothing about lowering gas prices for Arizona families. When Hobbs says ‘all of the above,’ what she means is more wind and solar.” According to Carbone, the Governor’s report calls for more utility-scale wind and solar development on state land, new solar development on state-owned buildings, and enrollment of public assets into virtual power plant programs. He said these measures put green energy development ahead of Arizona’s housing needs on state land while failing to address rising gas prices.
Carbone cited findings from the Common Sense Institute indicating that as many as 276,000 acres of state land within a 10-mile radius of incorporated cities and towns could support up to 200,000 new housing units. He said the administration has identified land closest to existing residential areas as “best” for solar development instead. “Housing is in short supply, prices are too high, and families are being pushed into denser and denser housing areas,” Carbone said. “Now Hobbs wants to use state land that is ripe for housing development to build massive solar projects near existing residential communities at a discount. That is bad policy, and Arizona families will pay for it.”
He also raised concerns about restrictive bidder qualifications leading to limited competition in public auctions for solar leases on state land. Since January 2023, nine out of ten such leases have drawn only one bidder each. Only one lease in the last three years produced a rental rate through competitive bidding. “The Governor has a constitutional obligation to ensure state land goes to the highest and best bidder at public auction,” Carbone said.
The plan includes installing rooftop solar on public buildings and other government contracts for green energy upgrades. Carbone argued this would mean more taxpayer dollars going to special interest groups even as agencies claim resources are limited: “Arizonans don’t want their tax dollars turned into a funding stream for green energy insiders,” he said.
Carbone further criticized the report’s lack of attention to rising gas prices or infrastructure needs such as pipelines or refineries: “You cannot claim to have an energy plan for Arizona while ignoring gasoline prices, fuel supply, and the infrastructure needed to keep this state moving,” he said.
Carbone was elected in 2023 as a Republican representative serving Legislative District 25 after replacing Michelle Udall according to Ballotpedia. More information can be found on the official roster page.
