By Reagan Priest | State Affairs
Arizona’s state buildings and properties could become renewable energy hubs if Gov. Katie Hobbs gets her way.
Hobbs’ office released its Arizona Energy Promise Taskforce report Thursday with 31 recommendations for addressing the state’s need for increased energy generation and transmission, including proposals to power state buildings with solar and wind projects.
The report recommends developing distributed solar projects at state buildings by first creating a map identifying which state-owned rooftops are viable for solar panel placement. It also proposes using state-owned land for utility-scale solar and wind farms, an idea first laid out in Hobbs’ executive budget proposal.
“We are not in a position where we can pick winners and losers in the energy space,” Hobbs told reporters Thursday. “We have to have an all-of-the-above approach.”
The task force also recommended enrolling state-owned buildings and assets in virtual power plant programs. VPPs would involve selling excess energy generated by rooftop solar and electric vehicle batteries to utility companies or large energy users, such as data centers.
