Carbone Blasts Hobbs’ Proposed Energy Plan, “Puts Solar Projects Ahead of Housing”

House Majority Leader Michael Carbone criticized Governor Hobbs’ newly released energy plan, saying the plan puts utility-scale solar projects, green energy contractors, and government spending ahead of housing, taxpayers, and lower costs.

Hobbs released her plan which details 31 recommendations taking aim at data centers and advancing “clean energy deployment.”

“Hobbs is calling this an all-of-the-above energy plan. It’s not,” said Carbone. “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.”

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. At the same time, it puts green energy development ahead of Arizona’s housing needs on state land and stays silent on the gas price issues hitting Arizona drivers the hardest claims Carbone.

According to the Common Sense Institute, 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. The Hobbs administration, however, has identified land closest to existing residential areas as “best” for solar development. State land should be used to maximize value for trust beneficiaries through open, competitive public auctions, not steered toward one politically favored industry while closing the door to others, including homebuilding.

“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.”

Restrictive bidder qualifications that result in only one bid at public auction also raise serious questions about whether the state is securing full value for K-12 education and other trust beneficiaries. Since January 2023, nine of the ten solar leases on state land have drawn only one bidder. Only one solar lease in the last three years produced a rental rate secured through a truly competitive bidding process.

“The Governor has a constitutional obligation to ensure state land goes to the highest and best bidder at public auction,” Carbone said. “She should let the market compete and let the best use win. Don’t skew the process to favor one predetermined winner. Don’t box out competition. And don’t leave millions of dollars on the table that should be going to support our schools. Arizona electric utilities use an open, competitive, all-source bidding process to decide who wins. State land should be no different.”

The plan also calls for installing rooftop solar on public buildings and opens the door to other major government contracts for so-called green energy upgrades. That means more taxpayer dollars flowing to special interest groups and politically connected vendors, even as state government continues claiming agencies are stretched thin and resources are limited. That pattern has defined much of her tenure as governor.

“Arizonans don’t want their tax dollars turned into a funding stream for green energy insiders,” Carbone said. “Building rooftop solar on government buildings will not reduce the price of gas or utilities for Arizona families. The renewable energy industry already benefits from millions of dollars each year in Arizona property tax subsidies and more than $2.3 billion in ratepayer surcharges tied to renewable mandates pushed by liberals like former Corporation Commissioner Kris Mayes. It does not need more handouts. Hobbs should explain exactly who benefits, how much it will cost, and why this is a higher priority than housing, affordability, and basic taxpayer accountability.”

Carbone accuses Hobbs of failing to address another major affordability problem for Arizona families: rising gas prices and growing fuel supply pressure as California refineries continue to shut down. Her report, claims Carbone, says nothing about the cost of gas in Arizona, offers no response to the state’s boutique fuel blend problem, and ignores the need for new infrastructure such as pipelines and 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,” Carbone said. “This report does not confront boutique fuel problems, does not address refinery or pipeline capacity, and does not even include the industry that supplies the fuel Arizona families and businesses rely on every day. That is not all of the above. That is selective politics dressed up as policy.”

The report follows months of task forces, meetings, and bureaucratic exercises that added little to what was already known, while House Republicans have continued pushing practical policies focused on reliable energy, lower costs, housing supply, and long-term infrastructure.

“Her report is long on politics and short on answers,” Carbone said. “It does not lower costs. It does not increase housing supply. It does not put taxpayers first. House Republicans are focused on affordability, reliability, and policies that serve Arizona families, not a narrow political agenda.”