by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Little Rock-based generation and transmission cooperative Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) has started a $93 million project to add 100 megawatts of generation capacity to its natural gas-fired Thomas B. Fitzhugh Generation Station near Ozark.

The expansion is part of AECC’s strategy to address wholesale generation needs. AECC is the wholesale power provider for the state’s 17 electric distribution cooperatives and part of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Construction at the existing 170-megawatt plant started in late September, and it’s expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The project includes adding two natural gas generating units to bring the total generation capacity to 270 megawatts. The new units can also operate on fuel oil.

Electric cooperatives begin $93 million project to expand gas plant

The natural gas-fired Thomas B. Fitzhugh Generation Station near Ozark is undergoing a $93 million expansion.

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas has 69,000 miles of unpaved roads, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture, and there are also many more miles of unpaved roads that crisscross national forest lands. They may soon turn into an economic engine fueled by bicycle tourism.

Organizers with the Ozark Foundation hope the Arkansas Graveler will become an annual event. The six-day ride stretches 340 miles from the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville to the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro.

Scotti Moody, Graveler event director and UCI pro cyclist, recently told Talk Business & Politics that the goal is for about 400 cyclists to participate in the 2024 event set for June 23-28. The route will go through Ozark, Jasper, Marshall, Mountain View and Cave City. It should be a tourism boon to the rural businesses the cyclist will utilize on the ride. Hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses will be exposed to many customers that have likely never visited rural Arkansas, she said.

Graveler more of ‘an experience,’ could be big for tourism