Electric Cooperatives CEO eyeing new policies at state, federal levels

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

Federal energy policy is shifting with a new presidential administration and with the Arkansas legislature in session, state energy legislation is also poised to reshape the landscape.

President Donald Trump campaigned on a muscular energy policy that centered on more oil and gas drilling as well as a loosening of regulatory hurdles on energy and retreat from the climate change policies of the Biden years. State lawmakers have introduced legislation to change how electricity companies can structure their rates to better benefit economic development opportunities.

Buddy Hasten, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, sat down recently with Talk Business & Politics Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock to discuss the current and future energy landscape. ECA and its 17 member-owners are electric distribution cooperatives serving approximately 1.2 million Arkansans.

Electric Cooperatives CEO eyeing new policies at state, federal levels

U.S Rep. Rick Crawford said he is optimistic about steel agreement between the U.S, Mexico

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Last week, the United States and Mexico reached a deal to address China’s ability to evade tariffs that were created to protect North American products that are made with steel, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, said the agreement is a way to enforce existing tariffs, according to the Associated Press.

“The president [Biden] is taking action to close loopholes left by his predecessor [Trump] that allowed China to circumvent trade rules,” she said.

U.S Rep. Rick Crawford said he is optimistic about steel agreement between the U.S, Mexico

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Feds award $25 million grant for I-49 segment in the Fort Smith metro

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The almost 14-mile segment of Interstate 49 to be built in Crawford and Sebastian counties between I-40 in Alma and Highway 22 in Barling has received a $25 million federal grant and is in the running for another $250 million federal grant.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) said Thursday (June 27) that the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant for use on the I-49 segment. The money comes from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. No members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation voted for the legislation.

“After decades of underinvestment, the condition of America’s infrastructure is now finally getting better instead of worse – and today we proudly announce our support for 148 more projects in communities of every size across the country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re funding projects across the country to make roads safer, make it easier for people to move around their community, make transportation infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather, and improve supply chains to keep costs down for consumers.”

Feds award $25 million grant for I-49 segment in the Fort Smith metro

EV Joint Governors Letter - electric vehicles

Gov. Sanders sending 80 from Arkansas National Guard to Texas-Mexico border

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

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Thursday (June 1) that she is directing about 80 soldiers from the Arkansas National Guard to the Texas-Mexico border.

Blaming the Biden administration’s recent halt of Title 42, Sanders said the guardsmen will support the Texas National Guard in border control efforts during the month of July.

Title 42 is a policy started during the COVID-19 pandemic by former President Donald Trump and kept in place until May by President Joe Biden. It curtailed rights for petition for asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/06/gov-sanders-sending-80-from-arkansas-national-guard-to-texas-mexico-border/

Sanders’ Request for 100 Percent Federal Cost Share Approved

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced her request for a 100 percent federal cost share, for a 30-day period, for state and local resources spent on storm debris cleanup and emergency protective measures in Pulaski, Lonoke, and Cross counties was approved by President Biden.

“As Arkansas’ tornado recovery continues, it’s clear that communities across our state will be substantially burdened by the cost of cleanup and repair. Last week, I asked President Biden to approve a 100 percent federal cost share for our storm recovery expenses. Today, I’m pleased to announce that the President has approved our request,” said Governor Sanders. “Coordination between federal, state, and local leaders has been seamless so far, and with today’s announcement, I’m confident we can continue our close partnership for as long as the recovery process takes.”

Arkansas seeks federal disaster relief after winter storm earlier this year

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has asked President Joe Biden to issue a disaster declaration for 13 counties that experienced the worst of a four-day winter storm that hit the state in late January and early February.

The request for federal public assistance covers 11 counties in southern Arkansas — Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Nevada and Ouachita — and Searcy and Stone counties in northern Arkansas.

“The sheer magnitude of this event created disastrous amounts of debris, caused extensive power outages, and resulted in the death of two Arkansans and the injury of many others,” Sanders said in a statement Monday afternoon. “We have determined that these storms are of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-21/arkansas-seeks-federal-disaster-relief-after-winter-storm-earlier-this-year

University Of Arkansas System Division Of Agriculture

A tree made top-heavy by ice tumbled into the side of a house in Pulaski County, Arkansas, during the winter storm of Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2023. The tree was uprooted as soils became saturated.

Poll: Biden receives low marks for job approval, Hutchinson has widespread support

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

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson scores high marks for his job performance among Arkansas voters, while Democratic President Joe Biden ranks low. U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., has an overall negative job approval rating, although he performs well with his party’s voters.

The latest Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of 961 likely Arkansas voters was conducted Feb. 7-8, 2022 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%. The survey asked:

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Gov. Asa Hutchinson is doing?

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Sen. John Boozman is doing?

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Joe Biden is doing?

Results are found at the link below.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/02/poll-biden-receives-low-marks-for-job-approval-hutchinson-has-widespread-support/

Poll: President Biden Sees Job Disapproval Grow in Arkansas

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

President Joe Biden’s job disapproval among Arkansans is growing, led by independent voters whose confidence in his handling of the job has declined. And a new survey of likely Arkansas voters finds more dissatisfaction than satisfaction in the institution of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The latest Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of 916 likely Arkansas voters was conducted Sept. 20-22, 2021 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.04%. The survey asked:

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Joe Biden is doing?

17% Strongly approve
22% Somewhat approve  (39% Approve)
6% Somewhat disapprove
53% Strongly disapprove  (59% Disapprove)
2% Don’t know

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job the U.S. Supreme Court is doing?

7% Strongly approve
38% Somewhat approve  (45% Approve)
29% Somewhat disapprove
19.5% Strongly disapprove  (48.5% Disapprove)
6.5% Don’t know

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/09/poll-president-biden-sees-job-disapproval-grow-in-arkansas/

Attorney General Rutledge Successfully Blocks President Biden's Oil and Gas Ban

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a statement following the U.S. District Court’s decision to grant a nationwide preliminary injunction against President Biden’s Executive Order declaring a moratorium on future oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on federal lands.

“Today the courts confirmed that President Biden overreached and that his authority has limits,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Just looking at the cost of gasoline, it’s clear that President Biden’s unilateral action had real world consequences for the pocketbooks of average Arkansans. And I will not stand by and let President Biden harm Arkansans’ and Americans’ bottom line.”

The Biden Executive Order halted new oil and gas leasing operations on federal lands and offshore, and as the court explained, the administration did so without ever attempting to comply with the requirements of federal law.  That failure to comply with the laws passed by Congress means that President Biden’s action was illegal.

The lawsuit was led by Louisiana and signed on to by Arkansas and the following states in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana: Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.