Nicknamed the ‘The Nature State,’ Arkansas boasts a variety of environmental attractions, from the Ozark Mountains to the Arkansas River Valley and the Delta along the Mississippi. Arkansas is home to just over 3 million people and spans about 52 thousand square miles.
Arkansas will become warmer in the coming decades, experiencing more severe floods and drought. Like other states in the Southeast, Arkansas is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and ensuing extreme weather events, both of which threaten water availability. Annual rainfall is expected to increase, but average rainfall is expected to decrease. This is a dangerous combination. Rainstorms will be more severe, causing damaging floods, but they are also fewer and farther between, with stretches of drought lengthening and intensifying. As a result, the total amount of water running into rivers or recharging groundwater is expected to decline by 5% or more each year. The Arkansas River is the channel of transportation for more than $4 billion worth of freight in a typical year. A shrinking river poses a direct threat to the economy, as barges will not be able to carry as many goods as river levels are reduced.
Arkansas has another interesting connection to climate change: the state is home to the biggest population of Marshall Islands citizens in the US, most of whom left their home to flee climate change as a result of rising sea levels. Of 50,000 Marshall Island citizens, between 12,000 and 15,000 now live in northwest Arkansas (5).
Arkansas continues to rely heavily on coal and natural gas. Coal accounted for 38% of the state’s energy consumption in 2019. 22% of the state’s energy comes from nuclear power. Renewable energy provided almost one-tenth of Arkansas electricity, mostly hydroelectric power and biomass. While the state does not have a renewable energy standard, net metering systems exist that significantly increase energy efficiency.
In 2008, Governor Mike Beebe established the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming. Modified in October, 2010, the GCGW went on to recommend 54 policies, 31 of which were quantified to determine their potential emissions reductions. They were predicted to reduce approximate 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2025. Momentum seems to have been halted in subsequent years. In 2014, the Governor Asa Hutchinson pushed back on former President Obama’s plan to scale back carbon pollution from existing power plants, asserting that governments should not intervene to reduce the climate impacts from fossil fuel production. Arkansas has not developed a climate adaptation plan.
09/01/22
As the sun sets outside with temperatures in the high 80s, where they’ll stay most of the night, several varieties of potted rice plants grow in two sections of a greenhouse on the roof of…
By Jeff Della Rosa 04/21/22
The new Carbon Reduction Program, created under the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is expected to help states develop carbon reduction strategies and address climate change. Program funding can be used to expand transportation options…
By Laura Aka 03/29/22
Chris Isbell of Isbell Farms is a prime example of a lifelong learner. "If I had to farm like everybody else, I wouldn’t want to be a farmer because I like to experiment. I like…
By Mark Rupp 03/25/22
Last month, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report. At the core of the report is a stark warning that, to date, our efforts to adapt to the changing climate…
By Daniel Breen 03/25/22
Farmers in some of the most flood-prone areas along the Mississippi River have received nearly $1.5 billion from the federal government over the past two decades. That’s according to a report from the nonprofit Environmental…
By Nathan Owens 03/24/22
An estimated 6,558 workers across the state have "green jobs," which directly or indirectly support goods or services that benefit the environment or conserve resources, data show. These jobs range from hydroelectric engineers to solar…
By Darby Bybee 02/25/22
Our Hearst national investigative unit sent out a climate survey to every county in America and cities with more than 50,000 people. The results give us a deeper look at the climate concerns that specific…
By David Worford 02/11/22
Renewable and efficient energy projects for public entities in Arkansas implemented by Johnson Controls have helped cut more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and saved $229 million since 2010.
By Worth Sparkman and Andrew Freedman 12/13/21
At least two Arkansans died Friday due to tornadic activity that started northeast of Little Rock and cut through parts of five other states. Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a state of emergency, giving the Arkansas…
By Skot Covert 11/15/21
Duck hunting in Arkansas is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life. A pastime passed from generation to generation and one that defines who we are as a state. Arkansas’s claim to…
By Griffin Coop 09/10/21
One of Arkansas’s biggest utilities is delivering wind power to thousands of homes in the state, and the company says more is on the way.
By Stacker 08/27/21
Just a degree or two degrees hotter doesn’t seem like a lot. You would barely notice the change on a sunny afternoon, or in the warmth of a cup of coffee. But over time, it’s…
PLANS TO ACCELERATE RENEWABLES
03/28/22
Oklahoma is ready to demonstrate hydrogen's viability as a commercial fuel, and it's taking its effort regional through a partnership with two neighboring states. Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana announced this week they have created a…
03/28/22
A global conglomerate born from the oil industry is, like other big companies, investing more money domestically in greener, more sustainable forms of energy.
03/06/22
Nearly 78% of auto ads in this year’s Super Bowl featured a plug-in vehicle. Consumers are increasingly interested in electric vehicles largely due to a variety of benefits including cost savings from lower fuel consumption,…
02/01/22
Entergy Arkansas’ Searcy Solar Energy Center went online last week, becoming the company’s first battery storage capable solar farm, with 30 MW of storage capability and no added fuel costs for customers.
11/03/21
The problem of global climate disruption is one of the most complicated issues of our time. Identifying the cause isn’t — the climate is in peril because we humans are spewing ridiculous amounts of greenhouse…
08/06/20
With the signing of Act 696 of the Arkansas 86th General Assembly (HB2460), Governor Mike Beebe established the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming (GCGW). The 21 members of the GCGW were appointed by the Governor…
04/19/20
The Energy Assurance Plan will provide: a vehicle for documenting and understanding our state’s energy infrastructure; an updated list of contact information for all energy stakeholders; an evaluation of the risks, vulnerabilities, and interconnected issues…
09/24/21
Arkansas has a diverse geography with natural resources that range from abundant natural gas, rivers, and forests to the rare gems found in the Crater of the Diamonds State Park, home to the only active…
09/10/21
The searchable Energy Storage Legislation Database displays information in interactive maps and charts, tracking state activity from 2017 to the present.
09/01/21
The National Conference of State Legislatures tracks environment and natural resources bills that have been introduced in the 50 states, territories and Washington, D.C.
10/06/20
The First Street Foundation Flood Model represents the culmination of decades of research and development made possible by building upon existing knowledge and frameworks regularly referenced in the identification of flood risk.
09/19/20
Between 2017 and 2019, Arkansas experienced six severe storms and three floods. The damages of these events led to losses of at least $1 billion.
08/13/20
In the coming decades, Arkansas will become warmer, and the state will probably experience more severe floods and drought. Unlike most of the nation, Arkansas has not become warmer during the last 50 to 100…
08/06/20
Unlike most of the nation, Arkansas has not warmed in the past century. Arkansas will become warmer in the future however, with both more flooding and droughts likely. Extreme heat and decreased water availability will…
07/31/20
Arkansas is vulnerable to flooding, drought and increasing temperatures which threaten the state’s agriculture and energy industries and human health
04/19/20
While climate change is often talked about in the future tense, our climate is already changing in both averages and the number and intensity of extremes. Since 2000, major disasters have been declared 23 times…
04/17/20
Arkansas currently averages about 30 dangerous heat days a year. By 2050, the state is projected to see nearly 90 such days a year.
04/17/20
The American Meteorological Society has released a new climate change report (one every 5 years) to summarize and highlight the latest findings about how our climate may change in the future. While every state and…
04/17/20
Arkansas has a strong history of agriculture, timber, outdoor tourism, and food production - industries that all depend on the hospitable climate of our beautiful State. To preserve our legacy and be stewards of our…
04/17/20
Arkansas accounts for about 1.5% of U.S. total natural gas production, and holds almost 1.5% of the nation’s natural gas reserves.
04/17/20
This is because the F015 combines arguably the two greatest innovations in the auto industry over the past two decades, hydrogen fuel cells and autonomous driving. Thanks to advancing connected car technology, both systems are…
04/17/20
Audubon fully supports the shift to clean, renewable energy. In Arkansas we work with legislators, government agencies and community partners to promote the benefits of clean energy and to support policies that will increase deploymment…
10/31/18
While no specific approvals are sought for this IRP pursuant to the Commission’s
08/01/16
In the coming decades, Arkansas will become warmer, and the state will probably experience more severe floods and drought. Unlike most of the nation, Arkansas has not become warmer during the last 50 to 100…
By Ashton Ealey 08/23/21
Arkansas has not exceeded federal limits for common air pollutants that can harm health or the environment in recent years, according to the latest state report, but environmental advocates say there's still room for improvement.
By Will Moclair 08/22/21
According to a United Nations Scientific Report, climate change has passed a point of no return in terms of irreversible damage we could be seeing for the next several decades.
08/11/21
Mayor Ginger Bailey, City Council Members, leaders of Ouachita Electric Cooperative (OECC), and executives at Today's Power, Inc. (TPI) attended the groundbreaking which was held on August 9th at 5:45 pm at one of two…
By Chuck Smith 05/04/21
Electric energy customers in Arkansas will be getting more solar or wind-generated power in the near future.
By Ashton Eley 05/04/21
Nearly 80% of Arkansas’ more than 47,300 oil and gas wells sit spent and abandoned, data shows, and Hendrix College professors and students have found that these unused well lands, along with thousands like them…
By Kyle Massey 04/27/21
Entergy Arkansas, the state's largest electric utility, is seeking at least 300 megawatts of renewable generation projects to supplement its electrical supply by 2026.
By Talk Business and Politics Staff 04/23/21
U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack—announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded over $90,000 in federal grants to Arkansas-based companies as…
By Ashley Godwin 04/15/21
Some are saying warmer weather is causing our allergy season to be worse this year. We find the answer.
By Mills Hayes 01/22/21
In President Joe Biden’s first few days of office, he has already issued several executive orders. On his first day, he signed an executive order that would cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline project. The project…
01/22/21
Entergy Arkansas customers who became part of the Solar Energy Purchase Option - Option B in the fall of 2020 have already begun to reap savings from the renewable energy generated at the Stuttgart Solar…
By Chris Counts 01/21/21
Entergy Arkansas customers who became part of the Solar Energy Purchase Option – Option B in the fall of 2020 have already begun to reap savings from the clean, renewable energy generated at the Stuttgart…
By Casey Frizzell 01/21/21
Some Arkansas lawmakers are showing their displeasures with President Biden revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline during his first day in office. Construction for the Keystone XL pipeline was halted on Wednesday (Jan.…
By SB Staff 01/20/21
Cedar Ridge Schools and Midland School District teamed up to improve their districts with a new solar facility. The array, a 1.36-MWdc single-axis tracking system provided by Entegrity, was inaugurated during a “Flip the Switch”…
By Max Brantley 01/20/21
A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down the Trump administration’s plan to relax restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, paving the way for President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. to enact new and…
By Claire Kreuz 01/19/21
The City of Hot Springs is going solar. In a partnership with Scenic Hill Solar, they are building the biggest municipal solar plant in the state. City of Hot Springs City Manager Bill Burrough said…
By Kyle Massey 01/14/21
Scenic Hill Solar CEO Bill Halter is accelerating his quest to take solar energy to schools and towns across the state with $3 million in new projects, one for Greenwood and the other for White…
By Roby Brock 01/10/21
Patrick Kinnamon is the co-founder of MakerMade, a precision tool manufacturing company located in Northwest Arkansas. His company’s carbon footprint and his worldview led him to contemplate how he could get involved to more effectively…
01/09/21
The advanced energy sector expanded in 2020, and its growth is expected to continue into 2021 as the energy industry transitions to renewables. “Advanced energy is growing by leaps and bounds in Arkansas,” said Stephanie…
By Jeff Della Rosa 12/16/20
Little Rock-based utility Central Arkansas Water and Little Rock-based renewable energy company Scenic Hill Solar announced Wednesday (Dec. 16) a more than $7 million project to build a 4.8-megawatt DC solar array as the first…
By Ninette Sosa 12/09/20
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health researchers looked at all 50 states and the District of Columbia and found many states are unprepared for protecting residents when it comes to climate change health impacts. The…
By Peter Cullum & Bryan Alexis 11/22/20
Coming to a close is an exhibition of student photographs displayed in the Don Lee Student Gallery in the Windgate Art and Design building at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. It’s a compelling…
By Madeleine Muzdakis 11/17/20
With the many logistical red-tape hurdles that still exist, administrators might also worry that public opinion could be skeptical of the switch to solar. However, administrators in Batesville found the exact opposite. Living near a…
By Tim Lawlis 11/17/20
“In many areas across the state, the aquifer has 10% or less water left in it,” said Jason Milks, Delta Program Director at The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas. “For every minute the timer saves in…
By Mark Williams 11/09/20
"The company’s capital investments reflect our commitment to enhancing service and delivering reliable, clean energy and advanced technologies that exceed our customers’ expectations,” Nick Akins, AEP's chairman, president and chief executive, said in a statement.
By Andrew Lisa 08/23/20
Floods accounted for three of the 14 natural disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damage in the United States in 2019. In total, flooding impacted 14 million Americans last year and put another…
By George Jared 08/11/20
Their impact to the U.S. economy are valued at about $15 billion per year, according to Scientific American. During the winter of 2018-19 bee keepers across the country lost an estimated 38% of their honeybee…
By Stacy Ryburn 08/05/20
"I think there's something really wrong with the part of our society that makes it so an essential worker has to live on the opposite side of town from the essential work we ask them…
06/02/20
Just in the past three years, the Trump administration has attempted to roll back at least 95 environmental rules and regulations to the detriment of the environment and Americans’ public health. Moreover, the administration refuses…
05/11/20
Southwestern Electric Power Co. has received Arkansas Public Service Commission approval of its request to add 810 megawatts of wind energy.
By Andrew Moreau 04/30/20
Entergy Arkansas announced Wednesday that it has gained approval to build the state's largest utility-owned solar project in White County. The solar array in Searcy will produce 100 megawatts of solar power and have 10…
By Dave Kovaleski 04/30/20
The Arkansas Public Service Commission approved the 100-megawatt Searcy Solar project in White County. The solar facility, owned by Entergy Arkansas, will be the largest utility-owned solar project in the state. It will feature 10…
By Matt Standridge 04/24/20
The American Meteorological Society has released a new climate change report (one every 5 years) to summarize and highlight the latest findings about how our climate may change in the future. While every state and…
By George Jared 03/10/20
The pluses and minuses of building and maintaining a reservoir, implementing various on-farm water conservation practices, and the impacts of the Bayou Meto and Grand Prairie water projects are among the topics to be addressed…
03/09/20
The group was able to provide 18 lodging scholarships, as well as seven registration scholarships for Arkansans March 13-15. The conference will focus on effective climate communication, market-based climate solutions, agriculture impacts, and public and…
By Jaclyn Brandt 02/11/20
Net metering rate issues have been a discussion point in many states across the country, most recently in Arkansas, where the Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) is considering changing the rates paid to solar users…
01/09/20
Cleco had invested in upgrades to the Dolet Hills plant in 2015 and 2016, and had previously said the plant was not expected to retire until 2046. Environmental groups had long sought closure of the…
By Emily Walkenhorst 10/13/19
"This is rapid change caused by humans, and it's up to us to do something about it," he added. Under a 5.4-degree Fahrenheit warming, 32 of Arkansas' 125 summer bird species would stand to lose…
By Wesley Brown 10/08/19
In his 45-minute speech at the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA)’s annual meeting and policy conference at Heifer International’s global headquarters in downtown Little Rock, Thomas said political differences have kept the nation’s power industry…
09/28/19
The risk of widespread drought in wheat production areas is four times the level scientists see today, Song Feng, associate professor of geosciences at the University of Arkansas and the second author on the study…
By Jeffery Martin 09/19/19
The city of Hot Springs, Arkansas has announced plans to switch to 100 percent solar energy. According to KATV, City Manager Bill Burrough says the switch to a renewable energy source will save the city…
By Gene Lyons 05/15/19
Even for somebody whose job it is to keep up with the news, some stories are just too upsetting. So it was with the recent release of a United Nations scientific report on biodiversity. A…
By Matthew Waller 05/30/18
Picasolar and WattGlass are technology-driven solar companies with roots in the New Venture Development and Business Plan Project classes, a graduate-level program in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.…
By Max Brantley 02/06/18
AEP announced today release of a report for a “clean energy” future. (Don’t tell Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. She has been fighting for haze, particulates and saving money for electric utilities by not requiring them…
