Wind power in Arkansas remains nearly untapped and as of 2014 no electricity was produced by wind turbines in the state. As of 2015 Arkansas had not established a renewable portfolio standard. Studies conducted conclude that while the state is generally consider to have low resources there are significant pockets throughout the state.
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Wind farm proposal
In January 2015, Texas-based Dragonfly Industries International, LLC, announced its intention to develop the first Arkansas wind farm on a 312-acre site in northwestern Arkansas in outside of Elm Springs in Washington County Dragonfly plans to build up to 40 wind pole turbines (80 Megawatts), rather than windmills, placed at one-acre intervals. The 150-foot wind poles will support generators (resembling those on the wings of jetliners, that would be raised and lowered using computers. It would be the first of its type to be built.
In August 2016, the Arkansas Securities Commissioner filed a cease and desist order against Dragonfly Industries International claiming CEO Jody Davis committed Securities fraud by not disclosing a previous conviction for wire fraud.
Import by transmission
The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) purchases electrical power from wind farms outside the state, including 51MW from Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas. In 2013 AECC entered a long-term agreement to buy 150 megawatts of wind energy from Oklahoma from the RES Americas-built Origin Wind Farm, which has 75 turbines in Murray County and Carter County, Oklahoma came on line at the end of 2014. It was taken over by Enel.
Potential
It is estimated that Arkansas could install 9,200 MW of wind generation capacity based on 80 meter hub height turbines. This could potentially generate 26.906 TWh of electricity each year. In 2015 Arkansas used 46.346 TWh of electricity. Raising the hub height to 110 meters, though, vastly increases the potential to 180,978 MW, capable of generating over 555 TWh of electricity each year.