In Arkansas, electricity consumption is currently dominated by fossil energy, with more than half of its supply, approximately 62%, directly from fossil fuels. Breaking it down further, natural gas accounts for nearly 34% of electricity, and coal contributes about 28%. Nevertheless, close to 38% of Arkansas' electricity comes from low-carbon sources, which is a positive stride towards a more sustainable energy mix. Leading this low-carbon segment is nuclear energy, providing almost a quarter of the electricity supplied in Arkansas, specifically around 24%. Solar energy, both utility-scale and small-scale combined, accounts for about 7.5%, half of which comes from utility-scale solar alone. Hydropower follows with roughly 5%, while biofuels contribute close to none, at around 1%. This makes the low-carbon contribution slightly more than a third in the period from September 2024 to August 2025.
Data sources used on this page include EIA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Arkansas?
While there is a historical decline in overall electricity consumption in Arkansas, currently at 20,513 kWh per person, down by 2,069 kWh compared to the peak year of 2018, there is noteworthy progress in low-carbon sectors. The recent figures show that low-carbon electricity generation, at 7,716 kWh per person, has witnessed an increase of 105 kWh since the previous peak in 2004. This reflects a strong potential for growth, especially when focusing on clean energy technologies, despite the stagnation and reduction in total electricity consumption. It is crucial to channel efforts into building a thriving low-carbon electricity sector to cater to future demands and forge a path towards sustainable growth.
Suggestions
To further augment low-carbon electricity generation, Arkansas should capitalize on existing nuclear capabilities by expanding its nuclear infrastructure, mimicking success stories from regions like France, where nuclear provides a substantial 70% of its electricity needs, or Ukraine where it accounts for more than half. Furthermore, looking at states like California and Nevada where solar energy plays a significant role, generating 29% and 33% of electricity respectively, reveals additional strategic insights. Arkansas could apply these lessons to bolster nuclear capacity and invest in more solar energy projects, facilitating a significant level of sustainable and clean electricity production. The opportunity to learn from such models can drive Arkansas towards becoming a leader in low-carbon electricity in the United States.
History
Historically, Arkansas has witnessed fluctuating developments in its low-carbon electricity landscape. In the early 2000s, nuclear and hydro energy faced several downturns and recoveries, with nuclear experiencing a notable decline in 2005 and 2013 by 1.8 and 3.5 TWh, followed by robust rebounds in 2006, 2009, and 2012. Hydropower also endured periods of decline such as in 2006 and 2011, but saw increasing generation in subsequent years like 2007 and 2019. In the last decade, nuclear energy evidenced sporadic variations, particularly diminishing outputs in years such as 2011, 2013, and more recently in 2021. However, these fluctuations offer valuable lessons and an impetus to stabilize and elevate Arkansas's commitment to sustainable electricity through strategic expansion and development in nuclear and solar spheres. This focus can mitigate past inconsistencies and engender a more consistent and upward trajectory in low-carbon electricity supply.
