Wind power in Arkansas remains nearly untapped, with just a single wind turbine in the state. [1] [2] Arkansas does not have a renewable portfolio standard. [3] Studies have concluded that while Arkansas is generally considered to have low wind resources, there are significant pockets of it throughout the state. [4] [5]
The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) purchases electrical power from wind farms outside the state, including [6] 51MW from Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas. [7] [8] 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. [9] [10] It was taken over by Enel. [11]
In 2018, SWEPCO, an Arkansas utility, faced opposition to its $4.5 billion Wind Catcher project, [12] [13] and indicated that ads opposing the project were being sponsored by an unknown non-profit, "Protect Our Pocketbooks". [14]
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." [15]
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." [14]
The Wind Catcher Energy Connection project was approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 2018. [16] [17]
Arkansas is home to one wind energy company, LM Windpower, which builds wind turbine blades at a plant in Little Rock, [18] and to 12 facilities involved in the wind energy industry, such as PPG Industries and ABB. [19]
A 100-foot wind turbine near Prairie Grove was the only turbine in the state. [20]
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. [21] In 2015 Arkansas used 46.346 TWh of electricity. [22] 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. [23]
Wind power in Arkansas remains nearly untapped, with just a single wind turbine in the state. [1] [2] Arkansas does not have a renewable portfolio standard. [3] Studies have concluded that while Arkansas is generally considered to have low wind resources, there are significant pockets of it throughout the state. [4] [5]
The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) purchases electrical power from wind farms outside the state, including [6] 51MW from Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas. [7] [8] 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. [9] [10] It was taken over by Enel. [11]
In 2018, SWEPCO, an Arkansas utility, faced opposition to its $4.5 billion Wind Catcher project, [12] [13] and indicated that ads opposing the project were being sponsored by an unknown non-profit, "Protect Our Pocketbooks". [14]
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." [15]
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." [14]
The Wind Catcher Energy Connection project was approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 2018. [16] [17]
Arkansas is home to one wind energy company, LM Windpower, which builds wind turbine blades at a plant in Little Rock, [18] and to 12 facilities involved in the wind energy industry, such as PPG Industries and ABB. [19]
A 100-foot wind turbine near Prairie Grove was the only turbine in the state. [20]
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. [21] In 2015 Arkansas used 46.346 TWh of electricity. [22] 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. [23]