Arizona State Representative Michael Carbone said on April 8 that Governor Katie Hobbs’ energy plan prioritizes green industry interests over taxpayers and housing needs. The statement was issued in response to the Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce report, which outlines recommendations for the state’s energy future, according to a press release from the Arizona House GOP Conference published on the official Arizona House GOP website.
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. Housing is in short supply, prices are too high, and families are being pushed into denser and denser housing areas. 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. Arizonans don’t want their tax dollars turned into a funding stream for green energy insiders. 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,” according to Carbone’s statement as published by the Arizona House GOP Conference.
According to the Common Sense Institute, approximately 276,000 acres of Arizona state trust land located within a 10-mile radius of incorporated cities and towns could support more than 200,000 new housing units. This land represents a key opportunity to address the state’s housing supply challenges driven by population growth in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. The institute notes that decisions on state trust land allocation carry direct consequences for residential development and long-term affordability.
Arizona ratepayers paid more than $2.3 billion in surcharges over two decades through the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff rules managed by the Arizona Corporation Commission. These surcharges supported renewable energy programs and incentives for utilities such as Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power. The commission recently voted to repeal these rules after reviewing cumulative costs passed on to customers.
Arizona faces ongoing pressure to expand its housing stock due to population and economic growth, according to multiple state analyses cited by the Common Sense Institute. State trust lands administered by the Arizona State Land Department are managed primarily to generate revenue for public schools while allowing compatible development. Allocation choices between energy projects and residential use affect both education funding and family affordability across the state.
Carbone represents Legislative District 25 in the Arizona House of Representatives after being elected in 2023. He was selected as House Majority Leader in January 2025 after replacing previous representative Michelle Udall. According to Ballotpedia, Carbone has worked on legislation addressing fiscal responsibility, education funding through state lands, and policies supporting Arizona families.
