There were a few announcements yesterday that will collectively have a large impact on our state and region.

• Power to learn: Ozarks Electric broke ground for a solar field in Springdale. This historic project will offset about 95% of energy used by Don Tyson SOI, Sonora Elementary & Middle Schools.
• Cutting money: Separately, Johnson Controls is now projected to cut more than 1m metric tons of CO2 through energy efficiency and renewable energy public projects across Arkansas, including Rogers and Washington County. The project is expected to generate a combined $36m in total utility savings for NWA.

Finally, Arkansas energy leaders yesterday celebrated Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s executive order to implement energy efficiency measures and reduce the energy costs in state government.