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Arkansas Advanced Energy Announces Inaugural Arkansas Energy Week this April

New statewide campaign will highlight the role of energy in Arkansas’s economy, workforce, and communities

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (Tuesday, March 24, 2026) – To highlight how energy powers Arkansas’s economy, communities, workforce and future, Arkansas Advanced Energy (AAE) will host Arkansas Energy Week April 5 – April 11, 2026.

“We launched Arkansas Energy Week as part of a broader commitment by Arkansas Advanced Energy to drive a more informed, solutions-oriented conversation about our state’s energy future,” said Executive Director Lauren Waldrip. “Our goal is to highlight and amplify the positive stories shaping Arkansas’s energy landscape across news outlets and social platforms.”

Arkansas Energy Week is a week-long awareness initiative to inform Arkansans about and celebrate the contributions of the energy sector to Arkansas’s economy. Arkansas residents, businesses, policymakers, media, community organizations and educational institutions are all encouraged to participate in Arkansas Energy Week by sharing positive content all week. In its first year, the campaign will primarily be virtual with the potential for more hands-on events and activities for future years.

Information about Arkansas Energy Week, including a participation toolkit and ideas for getting involved, is available at arkansasadvancedenergy.com/arkansas-energy-week. To support organizations interested in sharing content during Arkansas Energy Week and to help tell a more cohesive story of energy across Arkansas, AAE has developed the following “topics of the day” schedule.

  • Sunday, April 5: Renewable Energy and Innovation Day (Sun-Day). Shining a light on Arkansas’s growing renewable energy and technology innovation.
  • Monday, April 6: Energy Economy Day. Exploring how energy powers jobs, investment, and economic growth across Arkansas.
  • Tuesday, April 7: Local Power Day. Highlighting how Arkansas cities and counties are leading with local energy solutions.
  • Wednesday, April 8: Energy Advocacy Day. Conversations shaping the policies and regulations guiding Arkansas’s energy future.
  • Thursday, April 9: Energy Workforce Day. Building the skilled workforce that will power Arkansas’s energy sector.
  • Friday, April 10: Arkansas Transmission & Grid Day. Strengthening the transmission and infrastructure that keep Arkansas connected.
  • Saturday, April 11: Community Action Day. Supporting environmental stewardship and community action across the Natural State.

To complement Arkansas Energy Week, AAE has launched a free online resource library for Arkansans who would like to learn more about Arkansas's energy landscape. The library includes the  recently published Arkansas Advanced Energy State of the Industry Report; the Arkansas Energy Map, a tool to visualize utility, RTO, and legislative boundaries; the “Know Your Power” 101 energy series, educational videos, and additional resources.

Arkansas energy employment reached 67,035 jobs in 2024, growing faster than statewide employment. Construction, efficiency, grid, and renewables lead growth. Lithium extraction, sustainable aviation fuel, bioenergy, and battery storage position Arkansas within the domestic energy supply chain. Advanced energy in Arkansas includes electricity generation (solar, wind, nuclear, natural gas, bioenergy), energy efficiency, grid modernization, storage, distributed energy resources, electrification technologies, and the workforce and supply chains that support them. It spans rural and urban communities, agriculture and manufacturing, utilities, and entrepreneurs.

About Arkansas Advanced Energy

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association is the business voice for advanced energy in Arkansas. AAEA is dedicated to growing Arkansas’s economy through expanded utilization of advanced energy technologies, including energy efficiency, demand response, natural gas electric generation, solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, electric vehicles, alternative fuels and smart grid. For more information about AAEA, visit https://arkansasadvancedenergy.com/ or follow @ArkAdvEnergy on Facebook, Instagram or X.

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation promotes greater public understanding of advanced energy in Arkansas through research, public education programs, and economic and workforce development. For more information about AAEF, visit https://www.arkansasadvancedenergyfoundation.org.