Wind power in Arkansas

The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) purchases electrical power from wind farms outside the state, including{{cite web| url = http://www.newportindependent.com/article/20150521/NEWS/150529884| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160826232140/http://www.newportindependent.com/article/20150521/NEWS/150529884| archive-date = 2016-08-26| title = Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation adds 108 megawatts of wind energy - News - Newport Independent - Newport, AR - Newport, AR}} 51MW from Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas.{{cite web|url=http://www.ect.coop/power-supply/renewable-energy/arkansas-co-ops-commit-to-more-wind/81499|title=Arkansas Co-ops Commit to More Wind|work=Electric Co-op Today|access-date=6 June 2015|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724133255/http://www.ect.coop/power-supply/renewable-energy/arkansas-co-ops-commit-to-more-wind/81499|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozarksecc.com/newsblog/arkansas-electric-cooperative-corporation-adds-wind-capacity|title=Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Adds Wind Capacity|website=Ozarks Electric Cooperative|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175345/http://www.ozarksecc.com/newsblog/arkansas-electric-cooperative-corporation-adds-wind-capacity|url-status=live}} In 2013 AECC entered a long-term agreement to buy 150 megawatts of wind energy from Oklahoma from the RES Americas-built Origin Wind Farm, which has 75 turbines in Murray County and Carter County, Oklahoma, and came on line at the end of 2014.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-wind-farms-to-provide-power-to-arkansas-nebraska/article/3864823|title=Oklahoma wind farms to provide power to Arkansas, Nebraska|work=NewsOK.com|access-date=6 June 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060502/http://newsok.com/oklahoma-wind-farms-to-provide-power-to-arkansas-nebraska/article/3864823|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.res-americas.com/en/portfolio/wind/constructed/origin-wind-energy-project|title=RES Americas|author=Administrator|work=res-americas.com|access-date=6 June 2015|archive-date=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423144748/http://www.res-americas.com/en/portfolio/wind/constructed/origin-wind-energy-project|url-status=live}} It was taken over by Enel.{{cite web|url=http://renews.biz/54648/enel-takes-helm-at-150mw-origin/|title=Enel takes helm at 150MW Origin|work=reNEWS - Renewable Energy News|access-date=6 June 2015|archive-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228013321/http://renews.biz/54648/enel-takes-helm-at-150mw-origin/|url-status=live}}

In 2018, SWEPCO, an Arkansas utility, faced opposition to its $4.5 billion Wind Catcher project,{{Cite web|url=https://talkbusiness.net/2018/02/why-oklahomas-wind-catcher-is-a-bad-deal-for-arkansas/|title=Why Oklahoma's Wind Catcher is a bad deal for Arkansas|last=Tennille|first=Grant|date=2018-02-27|website=Talk Business & Politics|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175345/https://talkbusiness.net/2018/02/why-oklahomas-wind-catcher-is-a-bad-deal-for-arkansas/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/new-york-should-not-drive-energy-policy-for-other-states/|title=Don't Let New York Drive Energy Policy for Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas|last=Tidwell|first=John|date=2018-05-01|website=National Review|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012132323/https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/new-york-should-not-drive-energy-policy-for-other-states/|url-status=live}} and indicated that ads opposing the project were being sponsored by an unknown non-profit, "Protect Our Pocketbooks".{{Cite web|url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2018/03/07/mystery-dark-money-behind-opposition-to-wind-energy-project|title=Mystery: Dark money behind opposition to wind energy project|last=Brantley|first=Max|date=2018-03-07|website=Arkansas Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175344/https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2018/03/07/mystery-dark-money-behind-opposition-to-wind-energy-project|url-status=live}}

SWEPCO entered a settlement in which it agreed to "provide a number of guarantees, including a cap on construction costs, qualification for 100 percent of the federal Production Tax Credits, [and] minimum annual production from the project."{{Cite web|url=https://www.swepco.com/info/news/viewRelease.aspx?releaseID=2509|title=SWEPCO Announces Arkansas Settlement Supporting Wind Catcher Energy Connection|date=2018-02-20|website=www.swepco.com|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175346/https://www.swepco.com/info/news/viewRelease.aspx%3FreleaseID%3D2509|url-status=live}}

The Wind Catcher project involved "acquisition of a 2,000-megawatt wind farm under construction in the Oklahoma Panhandle and construction of a 360-mile dedicated generation tie line to the Tulsa area, where the existing electrical grid ... [would] deliver the wind energy to customers."

The Wind Catcher Energy Connection project was approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arkansas-public-service-commission-approves-wind-catcher-project-300644781.html|title=Arkansas Public Service Commission Approves Wind Catcher Project|date=2018-05-10|website=Transmission & Distribution World|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175345/https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arkansas-public-service-commission-approves-wind-catcher-project-300644781.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/louisiana-public-service-commission-approves-wind-catcher-project-300669541.html|title=Louisiana Public Service Commission Approves Wind Catcher Project|date=2018-06-21|website=Transmission & Distribution World|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601185353/https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/louisiana-public-service-commission-approves-wind-catcher-project-300669541.html|url-status=live}}

Arkansas is home to one wind energy company, LM Windpower, which builds wind turbine blades at a plant in Little Rock,{{Cite web|url=https://www.1012industryreport.com/uncategorized/lm-wind-power-michoud/|title=At Michoud, LM Wind Power taps into a growing market|last=Barnes|first=Sam|date=2019-02-26|website=10/12 Industry Report|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175345/https://www.1012industryreport.com/uncategorized/lm-wind-power-michoud/|url-status=live}} and to 12 facilities involved in the wind energy industry, such as PPG Industries and ABB.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sewind.org/images/fact_sheets/SEWC%20AR%20Wind%20Energy%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Dec%202014.pdf|title=Arkansas Wind Energy Fact Sheet|date=December 2014|website=Southeastern Wind Coalition|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205153533/http://www.sewind.org/images/fact_sheets/SEWC%20AR%20Wind%20Energy%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Dec%202014.pdf|url-status=live}}

A 100-foot wind turbine near Prairie Grove was the only turbine in the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/21/lone-turbine-in-prairie-grove-a-remnant/|title=Lone turbine in Prairie Grove a remnant of Arkansas wind power|last=Holtmeyer|first=Dan|date=2018-05-21|website=Arkansas Online|language=en|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2019-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175344/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/21/lone-turbine-in-prairie-grove-a-remnant/|url-status=live}}

It is estimated that Arkansas could install 9,200 MW of wind generation capacity based on 80 meter hub height turbines. This could potentially generate 26.906 TWh of electricity each year.{{Cite web |url=http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/pdfs/wind_maps/wind_potential.pdf |title=Estimates of Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential, by State |access-date=2016-03-06 |archive-date=2016-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229102757/http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/pdfs/wind_maps/wind_potential.pdf |url-status=live }} In 2015 Arkansas used 46.346 TWh of electricity.{{Cite web|title=Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php|access-date=2021-11-26|website=www.eia.gov|archive-date=2022-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211121357/https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/index.php|url-status=live}} Raising the hub height to 110 meters, though, vastly increases the potential to 180,978 MW, capable of generating over 555 TWh of electricity each year.{{Cite web |url=http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/windmaps/resource_potential.asp |title=Potential Wind Capacity |access-date=2016-03-06 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233505/http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/windmaps/resource_potential.asp |url-status=live }}

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• Solar power in Arkansas
• Energy in Arkansas
• Wind power in the United States
• Renewable energy in the United States

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