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Have you seen metro Phoenix from higher elevation? It's far more green than the surrounding desert already. Further, PV installations worsen the heat island effect and Phoenix is one of the leading cities in the US for installation numbers.

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Shading the ground beneath the solar panels should have a localized cooling effect, since the panels don't have as much thermal mass.

They do provide shade, but the panels inherently absorb solar energy and heat up. That heat doesn't have anywhere to go except the air and the urban heat island.

The other comments pretty well address both of those points.

I'd be glad to see more information as regards the conditions which lead to that conclusion

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