By: Sofia Galvan

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The University of Arkansas will celebrate the launch of a landmark clean energy initiative on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22. The celebration will unveil one of 20 solar power plants across the UA system.

The event will start at 11 a.m. in West Fayetteville at the Cato Springs Research Center. It will feature remarks from Provost Indrajeet Chaubey, UA System Vice President for Planning and Development Chris Thomason, Facilities Management Senior Advisor Scott Turley, and Scenic Hill Solar CEO Bill Halter. Attendees can participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, take a tour of the newly operational solar panels, and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

The project is the largest commercial solar project in Arkansas history and the fourth largest university solar deployment in U.S. history. In 2022, a solar service agreement was signed with Scenic Hill Solar through a competitive bidding process. The partnering company designed, installed, and connected the solar systems and plans to continue to maintain and operate them. It also helps reduce utility costs for the campus with no cost to the university.

The University of Arkansas campus accounts for more than half of the project’s total. With that, the campus will hedge against expected rising energy rates, reduce environmental impact, and create opportunities for hands-on learning and research. This project will be working to achieve its 2040 carbon neutrality goals and is expected to cause a major economic impact for Arkansas over the next 25 years.

The environmental benefits from this project will push the university to be a national leader in renewable energy, innovation, and sustainability. Many solar power plants are currently in operation, but the remaining are expected to be fully online later in 2026.

The university’s Office for Sustainability oversees the implementation of its environmental goals while having a goal to motivate, facilitate, and coordinate responsible practices with partnerships across campus.

To RSVP, email sustain@uark.edu