Elec Co-ops of Ark

Data centers are the backbone of the internet, storing and managing everything from social media and cryptocurrency mining to AI, cloud computing and streaming services. Take a look at why these big facilities require big power. via @NRECANews Our responsibility is to listen to members in the communities we serve and to provide reliable, affordable electric service. No matter what the future holds, our priority is to support economic growth with fairness –– that means ensuring large-scale energy users pay their fair share so residential bills don’t spike.

Our mission is to provide reliable, affordable and responsible power to every corner of Arkansas. And we’re expanding to deliver fiber for a more connected world. It’s your local, hometown cooperative way, because we’re better connected, together. aecc.com

Spring has sprung and so has the energy of a new season! Say hello to the power of the sun and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas as we light up the world together! #FirstDayOfSpring 🌷 💡 📸 Photo by Steven Popstein, Dogwood Blooms.

A split-second moment changed Cody’s life forever. Watch and learn more about his story and help raise awareness about power line safety — it could save a life. 🔌 Watch here: safeelectricity.org/videos-library… #FarmSafety

Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) has officially broken ground on an 850-megawatt natural gas-based generation facility in Morris County, Texas, near Naples. Scheduled to begin construction this summer, this state-of-the-art, two-turbine plant will span 100 acres and is expected to be fully operational by 2029. It will be one of the lowest-emitting and most efficient simple cycle natural gas generation stations in AECC’s fleet. AECC President and CEO Vernon “Buddy” Hasten said the project supports AECC’s commitment to delivering reliable, affordable electricity in a responsible manner. “The facility in Morris County, Texas, is crucial to maintaining reliable energy resources,” Hasten said. “AECC continues to develop proven, readily dispatchable power generation technologies to provide our members with reliable, affordable electricity.” Hasten said that AECC evaluated potential site locations in Arkansas prior to selecting the Texas location. He cited the Morris County site’s proximity to natural gas pipelines and transmission as the primary factors in the location selection. aecc.com/news-releases/…

Searcy's This Guy’s Smoke N Grill restaurant is a barbecue standout that Rob Roedel is raving about. Read more from the “This Guy’s Got Flavor” article in this month’s Arkansas Living Magazine by visiting: arkansaslivingmagazine.com/story/this-guy….

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” - Traditional Irish blessing Wishing you a day filled with good fortune, warm smiles and a little Irish luck along the way. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀

The challenge for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, especially as power demands increase, is to constantly balance available power generation resources while also being responsible for the use of available resources. How do we do that? Visit aecc.com/balance-of-pow… to find out!

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas are teaming up with Arkansas 4-H for their Annual Giving Day on March 17. Join us in supporting the future leaders of our state by making a gift to help these vital youth programs grow. uada.formstack.com/forms/donate4h

Celebrate Women’s History Month with us! Ouida Cox was a trailblazer in journalism was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work shaping and growing Arkansas Living Magazine into one of the state’s most influential publications. arkansaslivingmagazine.com/story/late-edi…

Plan ahead for thunderstorms, lightning and floods! By the time you are aware of an approaching storm, you may not have much time to respond. Plan now for spring storms: cdc.gov/natural-disast… via @CDCgov

It’s not every day students can say their classroom was 70 to 90 feet underwater — but that’s exactly what a group from Charleston High School experienced earlier this week. The students toured Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation’s Clyde T. Ellis Hydroelectric Generating Station at Barling, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the massive operation from top to bottom. Ellis is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility capable of producing 32.4 megawatts of power along the Arkansas River. Construction began in 1985, and the plant officially went online in 1988.

Our mission is to provide reliable, affordable and responsible power to every corner of Arkansas. And we’re expanding to deliver fiber for a more connected world. It’s your local, hometown cooperative way, because we’re better connected, together. aecc.com

Locked windows are safer and more energy efficient than windows that are simply closed. #KeepThemLocked

We’ve heard 2026 is the new 2016, but not when it comes to energy savings. @ENERGYSTAR-certified refrigerators are 9% more efficient than standard models. If you still have that old beige fridge, this might be the year to recycle it and upgrade: energystar.gov/products/refri…

Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. President and CEO Vernon "Buddy" Hasten recently shared critical updates on infrastructure and permitting goals at the NRECA PowerXchange Conference in Nashville. During a panel discussion, he provided progress reports on AECC’s power generation projects and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing of AECC’s three hydroelectric plants. Hasten also addressed the complexities of federal permitting and shared strategic insights on effectively collaborating with state and federal agencies to keep these vital projects on track.

The electric cooperatives in Arkansas are looking for outstanding students to join the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Youth Tour, an all-expenses-paid, weeklong leadership experience in our nation’s capital from June 13-19. Apply today to make your mark!

@RepWesterman is working with the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas to protect electric reliability and help us maintain a Balance of Power. Find out how on our latest podcast. aecc.com/balance-of-pow…

Your cooperative membership means you have a voice! Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies, making decisions and electing representatives. Learn more at aecc.com #CooperativePrinciples

Karthik Dalai of Sebastian County is the champion of the 2026 Arkansas State Spelling Bee sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. The 11-year-old East Hills Middle School student is the son of Venkata Dalai and Phani Kampella of Fort Smith. He competed against 55 county champions at the state contest held at the Arkansas 4-H Vines Center in Little Rock. The runner-up for the state contest was Viktoria Caril of Pulaski County. Placing third was Daksh Singh of White County and Michael Jones of Baxter County, while fourth place went to Arav Ashish of Benton County and Kaylee Tran of Craighead County. Carter Metcalf of Marion County, Warren Reynolds of Union County and Joshua Oh of Lonoke County placed fifth. The State Spelling Bee will air on Arkansas TV on April 2 at 7 p.m. Dalai will represent Arkansas at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.