Fact Check
Some groups claim to protect landowners while actually protecting the fossil fuel industry. Here's the truth they don't want you to know.
Debunked
Solar is the cheapest electricity source ever recorded. SRP's rate increases come from maintaining aging infrastructure, building new natural gas plants, and paying executives. In 2023, SRP spent $1.8 billion on fossil fuel generation while charging solar customers extra fees. The "extremists" they attack are families trying to lower their bills with rooftop solar.
Solar panels produce the most power when we need it most—during hot, sunny days. Battery storage now provides reliable backup. Meanwhile, fossil fuel plants fail during extreme heat (they need cooling water) and extreme cold (see: Texas 2021). The real threat to reliability is climate change itself, caused by burning fossil fuels.
Clean energy advocates aren't threatening your water rights. This is a classic misdirection. Notice how they show photos of solar panels on their website while attacking solar policy? The real threat to Arizona's water is climate change—longer droughts, reduced snowpack, and lower Colorado River flows. Clean energy helps protect water by fighting climate change.
Follow the money. Groups that attack clean energy while claiming to protect consumers are often funded by fossil fuel interests. Meanwhile, actual landowners benefit from solar—it's the best return on investment for Arizona property. The "agenda" they're protecting isn't yours; it's the utility monopoly's.
Notice how anti-solar groups often use images of solar panels on their websites? They know solar is popular. They just don't want you to have access to its benefits. Their real goal is protecting utility profits, not your electricity bills.
Follow the Money
When you hear "landowner advocacy" against clean energy, ask yourself: who's funding the message?
SRP and APS spend millions lobbying against rooftop solar. Why? Because when you generate your own power, they sell less electricity. Your savings are their losses.
Coal and natural gas companies fund "grassroots" groups that attack renewables. They use terms like "reliability" and "affordability" to mask their real interest: keeping you dependent on fossil fuels.
Anonymous donors funnel money through nonprofits to influence SRP elections. They can't win on the merits, so they rely on fear, uncertainty, and doubt.
Compare
The choice is clear when you look at what each side actually supports.
| Issue | Energy Freedom Team | Status Quo Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop Solar | ✓Fair compensation for solar owners | ✗Fees that kill solar savings |
| Electric Rates | ✓Invest in cheap renewables | ✗Keep building expensive gas plants |
| Grid Reliability | ✓Diverse sources + battery storage | ✗Depend on aging fossil infrastructure |
| Climate Change | ✓Reduce emissions, protect Arizona | ✗Deny or ignore the problem |
| Transparency | ✓Open about funding and goals | ✗Dark money, vague "advocacy" |
| Your Bill | ✓Help you save with solar | ✗Keep you paying the utility |
"
When someone tells you that the cheapest, cleanest energy source is bad for you, ask who's paying them to say it.
— Common Sense
Take Action
The SRP board election is your chance to choose representatives who work for you—not utility profits.