Little Rock-based Entergy Arkansas recently provided updates on a program that allows commercial and industrial customers to cover 100% of their electricity consumption with clean energy. The utility’s Go ZERO program is one among others that Arkansas electricity providers have to help customers meet energy and environmental goals.
So far, 11 customers have subscribed to the Go ZERO program, including the federal government. ZERO stands for zero emissions resource options. In August, Entergy Arkansas announced the Arkansas Public Service Commission approved the program via a tariff. Entergy Arkansas, a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., provides electricity to about 730,000 customers in 63 counties.
Still, Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) has offered a clean energy program since 2021. Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), the wholesale electricity provider for 17 electric cooperatives in Arkansas, doesn’t have a clean energy program tariff, according to spokesman Rob Roedel, but it’s sold renewable energy credits to some commercial customers to help them meet their renewable energy goals. Liberty Utilities doesn’t have a clean energy program for its Arkansas customers, but spokeswoman Meagan Spangler said it may seek regulatory approval to establish one.
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According to a Feb. 1 news release, Go ZERO “allows customers to acquire green and clean energy attributes associated with the output of Entergy Arkansas’ existing emissions-free generation resources, as well as additional renewable energy resources as they come online.”
Arkansas Steel Associates is one of the first customers to cover 100% of their energy use through the program. According to the release, Arkansas Steel’s participation in the program exemplifies how Entergy Arkansas’ services provide economic development tools that support investment and employment opportunities in Arkansas.
“While Arkansas Steel Associates has been doing business in Newport for 35 years, it’s important to note that we also do business throughout North America. So having this green and clean energy option in Arkansas is really important to us and our customers,” said Tommy Okada, president and CEO of Arkansas Steel Associates. “Access to carbon-free and affordable electricity is a big advantage for doing business here.”
The generation sources available to program participants include nuclear and renewable resources, such as solar, hydro and wind. The program goal is to allow Entergy Arkansas customers in the public and private sectors to have “a cost-effective and reliable option for clean energy that matches their electricity consumption for all hours of the day,” the release shows.
“Programs like Go ZERO are a component of providing reliable, sustainable and affordable electric utility service to all our customers,” said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas. “These programs positively support green and clean energy investment here in the Natural State, and Entergy Arkansas is excited to see Arkansas Steel Associates, one of our largest customers, take advantage of our clean energy options. We work with our customers to develop options that meet their sustainability goals, and we are delighted to see this partnership succeed.”
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Other program subscribers include All Weather Insulated Panels of Little Rock and the federal government, the nation’s largest energy consumer. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has a goal to use 100% clean energy by 2030. Over the past three years, the federal government has reached agreements to provide federal buildings in 16 states with 100% clean energy by 2030, according to a Friday (Feb. 9) news release. This will increase the government’s reliance on clean energy from 38% to 47%.
The following options are available to Go ZERO program participants:
Subscription to asset-backed renewable energy credits (RECs) from renewable resources, such as wind and solar, with the RECs retired on behalf of the subscribing customer
Provide customers with asset-backed zero-emission alternative energy certificates (AECs) for the customer’s share of existing nuclear and hydro resources, with the AECs retired on behalf of the subscribing customer
24/7 time-match reporting of the customer’s scope 2 emissions associated with the customer’s retail electricity purchases.
According to the Go ZERO rate schedule, customers can select one or a combination of these options to account for up to 100% of their electricity demand. Go ZERO is listed as an individual charge on customers’ monthly bills.
Option one, or the asset-backed RECs, allows customers to subscribe to renewable resources in 1-kilowatt increments. Customers select from three billing options, which are based on rates from the Texas Solar REC Index at $0.004745 multiplied by the amount generated by the customers’ subscribed capacity. The rate schedule shows one of the billing options also includes “the forward locational marginal price of solar resources during peak hours” at $0.03555 per kilowatt-hour. The rates are updated annually.
Option two, or the asset-backed AECs, has a rate of $0.000035 per kilowatt-hour, and the charge is based on a per kilowatt-hour cost to retire AECs on the customer’s behalf. Option three, or the time-match reporting, is $315 per month. Link here for more on the Go ZERO program.
SWEPCO spokeswoman Shanda Hunter said SWEPCO’s Renewable Energy Choice program started in 2021.
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“SWEPCO is looking to expand its REC offerings as more facilities come online, but we currently have a REC offering program in place,” said Hunter, noting that the program was significant to Rockline Industries.
According to an Oct. 5 news release, Rockline Industries achieved a 36% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by participating in the program. Rockline Industries, which makes coffee filters and wet wipes, has plants in Booneville and Springdale. In 2020, it established goals to reduce emissions by 50% within a decade and to meet 60% of its electricity demand with renewable sources.
Across SWEPCO’s three-state footprint that includes Arkansas, about 75 customers participate in the Renewable Energy Choice program, Hunter said. In 2023, SWEPCO added 29 participants to the program.
According to SWEPCO’s website, customers can purchase RECs for $0.004012 per kilowatt-hour. “The RECs you purchase allow you to legally claim the environmental benefits of the renewable energy,” the website shows. Customers decide how much of their electricity demand will be attributed to the program, and SWEPCO provides a corresponding amount of RECs from its renewable generation sources. For example, a household that’s enrolled half of its electricity demand in the program and uses 1,200 kilowatt-hours monthly will pay about $2.41 monthly for the RECs. Link here for more on the program.
Roedel provided the following statement when asked whether the electric cooperatives have a clean energy program like Entergy Arkansas’:
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“Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative that works on behalf of the state’s 1.2 million electric cooperative members.
AECC’s diverse generation resource mix includes wind, solar and hydro. Although Arkansas does not have a renewable portfolio standard, AECC has marketed and sold the renewable attributes of these facilities to industries and companies that use them to meet renewable energy goals. This practice has been followed for many years and ultimately has contributed to ensuring that electric cooperative members have reliable, affordable power.”
Roedel said AECC has additional credits available but declined to say how many customers have acquired them.
According to AECC’s website, it sells RECs associated with the electricity produced by the Clyde T. Ellis Hydroelectric Generating Station, Carl S. Whillock Hydroelectric Generating Station, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Hydropower Generating Station, and through power purchase agreements, from multiple wind farms.
“AECC does not claim that the electricity sold from these generation resources to its member cooperatives and others is ‘green,’ ‘renewable,’ ‘clean’ or has any other environmental attribute,” the website shows.
Ella McCarthy covers state politics and the state Supreme Court. Before joining the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, she covered Austin City Hall for the Austin American-Statesman, and before that, held a fellowship with ABC News in Washington, D.C., where she covered national politics. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, her work has been recognized by the Hearst Foundation, the Missouri Press Association and LION Publishers in the LION local journalism awards. She contributed to the Statesman’s coverage of a two-city shooting rampage that won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for breaking news coverage.
KATV ABC 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas covers news, sports, weather and the local community in the city and the surrounding area, including Hot Springs, Conway, Pine Bluff, Jacksonville, Sherwood, Stuttgart, Benton, Bauxite, East End, Scott, Pinnacle, Maumelle, Gibson, Landmark and Hensley.
The Little Rock Marathon welcomes runners of all experience levels to run its course each year.
That was best exemplified when its winners crossed the finish line.
The marathon featured 1,427 entrants, ages 16 to 80, with race veterans and first-timers of all ages competing Sunday morning.
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This was the 10th marathon for Benjamin Williams, a 42-year-old Baltimore resident originally from Australia. He hadn’t won prior Sunday but finished second in a marathon in Memphis in 2025 and was determined to finally get over the hump in Little Rock.
“It’s amazing,” Williams said. “I mean, it’s such a beautiful course, and it’s my first time in Arkansas. I love the city, and I’m just so excited to do it.
“I was desperate to win this one. I went to the front in the first mile, and then I ran on my own basically the whole way.”
Williams held an advantage of nearly a minute on the next-closet runner through the first 7 1/2 miles. By the time he hit the half marathon point, 13.1 miles, his lead was just shy of four minutes thanks to a 5:41 pace.
Williams won the marathon with a chip time of 2:32:07. Tyreek Gilkey, 22, of Fort Smith came second with a 2:39:02 chip time. Alec Hewett, 33, of Colorado Springs, Colo., finished third with a chip time of 2:39:50.
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“Little Rock is beautiful,” Williams said. “You know, I was focused on the race, but I’ve been able to see it the last few days, just walking around this beautiful city. The course is actually really hard. There’s a hill as you go up to Hillcrest, that neighborhood. That was a long, brutal hill. And then they get you with a little one just here at the end as well. So, yeah, it was a good course, but tough.”
Williams made sure to mention just how far he’s come in his marathon running career after winning his first.
“This is my 10th,” Williams said. “So hopefully it’s by some other people. My first one took me four hours, and I’ve just slowly brought it down.”
Williams also won the 5K on Saturday with a chip time of 16:22.7.
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As for the women’s race, it was first-timer Holly Moser, 25, who claimed first place. The Greeley, Colo., native who recently moved to Jacksonville finished seventh overall and first among female runners with a time of 2:53:23. She was second or third at each of the first five checkpoints before her 6:36 pace from Mile 21 to Mile 23 pushed her into first.
Moser, like most runners that compete in the Little Rock Marathon, highlighted the hills in the western portion of the course, particularly in the Hillcrest neighborhood, as a challenge.
“You guys managed to find every single hill that exists in the city somehow,” Moser said with a laugh. “I’m not sure how you did it, but you did. The energy was there, so it’s easy to get up those hills. And it was fun to kind of sightsee Little Rock. I still haven’t been to a lot of the neighborhood areas since we live in Jacksonville, so it was nice to get to see like a new area that I haven’t gotten to see before.”
Like Williams, Moser also ran the 5K the day before running the marathon. She finished seventh overall and third among women in that with a time of 19:49.4.
Leah Thorvilson, 47, of Bella Vista finished second among women with a chip time of 2:54:49. Erin Bellissimo, 41, of Monument, Colo., finished third with a 3:02:05 chip time.
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One other finish of note was Aaron McCaleb, who was the first marathon athlete overall to finish with a time of 1:59:48. Competing in the hand cycle division, McCaleb, 22, finished nearly 45 minutes before the nearest cyclist.
Temperatures remained favorable and fan support turnout was strong Sunday, giving competitors like Moser the boost they needed.
“The weather was perfect for the first like two hours, and then that sun came out and it got a little warm, but the support was unmatched,” Moser said. “I mean, every single booth that you passed, the vibes were high. Everyone was cheering. People were screaming your name. It’s easy to run fast when you got that many fans.”
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge as the sun rises over the Arkansas River during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge into North Little Rock during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
A group of spectators watch runners cross the Broadway Bridge during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
A runner heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge into North Little Rock during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge into North Little Rock during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Holly Moser heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Moser would go on to win the women’s race. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Benjamin Williams heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Williams would go on to win the men’s race. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Benjamin Williams heads toward the finish line on the final stretch of the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Williams would go on to win the men’s race. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Runners cross the Broadway Bridge into North Little Rock during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Competitors run past the Arkansas state Capitol during the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday, March 1, 2026. See more photos at arkansasonline.com/32runners/ (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Colin Murphey)
Katie Bowser stops to give her husband Larry Bowser a kiss before turning onto Tenth Street from Main Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Katie was running the full marathon. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Marion Milwee, 16, (from left) Jennifer Milwee and Shannon Butler Dixon cheer as Virginia Milwee, their sister, daughter and niece respectively turns on to Commerce Street from Ninth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Melinda Asewicz holds up her glass in salute as runners move west on Ninth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
A runner moves east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
A runner gets a drink from Andrea Rothman as he moves east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
A runner moves east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Runners move east along Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Holly Moser, 25, of Jacksonville, crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Moser won the women’s race with a time of 2:53:23 the finish line https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Holly Moser, 25, of Jacksonville, runs to the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Moser won the women’s race with a time of 2:53:23 the finish line https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Benjamin Williams of crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock.Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Benjamin Williams of crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock.Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Benjamin Williams of Baltimore runs on Ninth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Benjamin Williams of Baltimore runs on Fourth Street during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock.Williams won the men’s race with a time 2:32:07. https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Anne Henry Milner stretches out on the floor of the Statehouse Convention Center after completing the half marathon portion of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Runners cross the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
A runner crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
A runner crosses the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Runners cross the finish line during the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Runners take to the course at the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
Sam (left) and Elliot Driver talk before the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Elliot was running in the half marathon. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..
Maly Tabor (left) and Mary Kate Reid stretch before the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. Both women were running in the half marathon. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..
A group of runners walk down Main Street on their way to the Statehouse Convention Center for the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..
Volunteers gather outside of the Statehouse Convention Center before the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..
A runner walks towards the starting line of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0302Runners/….(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)..
Runners take to the course at the start of the 2026 Little Rock Marathon Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Little Rock. See more photos at https://www.arkansasonline.com/0301Runners/..(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
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