Energy

Summit Utilities files lower winter gas cost rates

Summit Utilities Arkansas has filed 2024 winter cost of gas rates with the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) with the lowest winter season cost of gas since 2021. Summit owns…

SPP approves $7.7 billion plan to expand, upgrade transmission capacity

Little Rock-based regional transmission organization Southwest Power Pool has approved a $7.7 billion plan to expand and upgrade the region’s transmission capacity, according to a Tuesday (Oct. 29) news release….

Treaty Oak Clean Energy announces 1,000 acre, 100 MW solar facility in Grant County

Treaty Oak Clean Energy, LLC of Austin, Texas, a company that develops, builds, and operates utility-scale solar and battery storage projects, announced the development of a 100-megawatt, 1,000-acre solar facility…

Gnargo opens Bentonville store to expand electric cargo bike work

Cargo e-bike maker Gnargo Bike Co. recently opened a store at 3905 N.W. Wishing Springs Drive in Bentonville. Zach and Elysia Springer are the co-founders and co-owners. Zach Springer said…

Consumer prices rose 2.4% in September

The prices of most goods and services ticked higher in September. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was up 2.4% from the year-ago period, according to Thursday’s (Oct. 10) report from…

Fayetteville neighborhood includes 2 net-zero homes

The 11th Street Cottages in Fayetteville recently opened as the first Energy Star-certified pocket neighborhood featuring net-zero homes in Northwest Arkansas, according to a news release. Fayetteville-based Dakota Development LLC,…

EIA: winter heating costs to remain similar to last year

Most U.S. households, on average, will pay about the same to heat their homes this winter as they did last winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). However,…

Keo Fish Farms to build $1.5 million solar array

Keo Fish Farms will spend $1.5 million to build an 856-kilowatt solar array at its Lonoke County facility. It will save the farm $110,726 during its first year and is…

Electric cooperatives begin $93 million project to expand gas plant

Little Rock-based generation and transmission cooperative Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) has started a $93 million project to add 100 megawatts of generation capacity to its natural gas-fired Thomas B….

Black Hills Energy bills to increase; reflect one-time credit

Arkansas customers of Black Hills Energy will see natural gas bills rise because of a rate hike starting with October billing, the company said Wednesday (Oct. 2). The average residential…

Scenic Hill taps $31.8 million in financing for UA System solar project

Little Rock-based Scenic Hill Solar has secured $31.8 million in financing from Climate United to support a more than $100 million solar power project for the University of Arkansas System….

Southwest Power Pool announces leadership changes

Little Rock-based regional transmission organization Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has promoted multiple director-level and executive-level staff in legal and engineering and announced that a c-suite executive plans to retire in…

Green energy and education event to be held at UAFS

Sustainability, energy justice, and energy efficiency are some of the discussion topics in the second annual River Valley Green Energy and Education Program (RV-GEEP) seminar set for Oct. 3-4 at…

City of Fort Smith moves forward on solar energy plan

The Fort Smith Board of Directors recently approved a solar energy plan. A $1.452 million investment will generate about $100,000 in annual energy cost savings that will offset 68% of…

U.S. Department of Energy awards $225 million to lithium efforts in Southwest Arkansas

Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor announced Friday (Sept. 20) that its jointly-owned U.S. subsidiary, SWA Lithium LLC has been selected for up to $225 million from the U.S. Department of…

Electric Cooperatives mark 1 million milestone for fiber network

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas announced Thursday (Sept. 19) a milestone in high-speed internet broadband access throughout the state, as cooperative fiber providers have delivered broadband capability to more than…

Entergy Arkansas begins operating 100-MW solar facility near Brinkley

Little Rock-based Entergy Arkansas announced Thursday (Sept. 18) it has begun operating its 100-megawatt (MW) Walnut Bend Solar Energy Center located near Brinkley, Ark. According to Entergy, Walnut Bend is…

J.B. Hunt to test new truck powered by renewable natural gas

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. will be the first company to participate in a program to test a new truck that runs on renewable natural gas. According to J.B….

Blytheville top micropolitan area in Arkansas according to Heartland Forward

Transportation, manufacturing and petroleum-related industries have contributed to the overall economic strength of some of the top micropolitan areas in Arkansas, according to a new report. Bentonville-based Heartland Forward, a…

Entergy Arkansas gives almost $500,000 to Arkansas nonprofits in 2024

Little Rock-based utility Entergy Arkansas has awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to Arkansas nonprofits, government agencies and organizations this year. It’s on track to meet or exceed a goal of 25,000…