Arkansas's electricity consumption over the past year, from June 2024 to May 2025, paints a picture of reliance more on fossil fuels than low-carbon energy sources. Fossil energy, comprising largely natural gas and coal, makes up more than half of the state's electricity supply. Specifically, natural gas accounts for about 35% alone, with coal just shy of 30%. On the cleaner side of the energy equation, low-carbon sources contribute approximately 37% to the electricity mix, with nuclear power being the most significant contributor, providing nearly 25%. Solar and hydropower each add around 5% of the total electricity, with biofuels contributing a small fraction. This indicates a significant presence of clean energy, but there remains a clear need for growth to counterbalance the heavy use of fossil fuels, which are known to contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Arkansas?
Examining the trend in electricity use, it's notable that Arkansas's current electricity consumption per capita has decreased from its peak in 2018. The consumption for 2025 stands at around 19,660 kWh per person, down by nearly 3,000 kWh from the high of 22,575 kWh in 2018. This decline could indicate efficiency improvements or perhaps economic changes in the region. In terms of low-carbon electricity generation, the recent figure of about 7,209 kWh per person suggests a decline from its peak in 2004, when it reached 7,611 kWh per person. This slight drop in low-carbon electricity generation is disheartening and highlights the necessity for Arkansas to elevate its commitment to climate-friendly electricity sources to grow these numbers once more.
Suggestions
To bolster Arkansas's low-carbon electricity generation, expanding its nuclear capacity can be an effective strategy, given its current substantial contribution to the state's clean energy mix. Arkansas can look towards states like Illinois and South Carolina, which generate over half of their electricity through nuclear power, as models for this expansion. Adding to this, exploring solar energy initiatives could also bring resilience and diversity to Arkansas's energy portfolio; states like Nevada and Lebanon can provide insights on successful solar integration with their 29% and 31% shares in solar electricity, respectively. By learning from these regions, Arkansas can effectively increase its electricity production from low-carbon sources, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and ensuring a sustainable environmental footprint.
History
Over the decades, the history of low-carbon electricity in Arkansas reveals fluctuations, particularly with nuclear energy. In the mid-2000s, nuclear saw a mix of growth and decline, with a notable reduction of nearly 2 TWh in 2005 but subsequent recoveries, such as a 1.5 TWh increase in 2006. By 2013, nuclear power experienced its most significant dip of 3.5 TWh, although a substantial recovery occurred in the following year with a 2.5 TWh increase. The past few years have seen consistent strides with solar electricity generation, especially since 2024, when solar added an additional 1.4 TWh, followed by another significant increase in 2025. These recent gains illustrate the potential for future growth in clean energy generation, driven by steady improvements in solar capacity alongside a strong emphasis on sustaining and expanding nuclear power to ensure a robust and clean electricity sector for Arkansas.