Electric co-op plans
wind-energy project
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. of Little Rock has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Wildhorse Wind Energy LLC to buy up to 100 megawatts of energy that will be produced by the Wildhorse Mountain Wind Facility in Pushmataha County, Okla.
Wildhorse Wind Energy is owned by Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Co.
The 100-megawatt project, about 100 miles southwest of Fort Smith, is expected to consist of 29 wind turbines manufactured by Vestas and Roaring Fork Wind, a co-development partnership between Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. and Vestas.
Wildhorse Mountain is expected to reach commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2019.
"This wind facility along with [Arkansas Electric's] diverse, reliable generation portfolio provides energy at the lowest possible cost to our members," said Duane Highley, Arkansas Electric's chief executive officer.
-- David Smith
Airline adds flights
to Florida for season
Allegiant Air opened its seasonal route from Northwest Arkansas to Destin, Fla., on Wednesday.
The nonstop flights will operate twice a week between Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. Flights are available through Aug. 11.
Allegiant now operates nonstop flights to four destinations from the Northwest Arkansas airport, with the Destin route joining Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Sanford, Fla., near Orlando.
Earlier this year, Kelly Johnson, the manager of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that future plans for the Destin flight will depend on its popularity with customers.
-- Robbie Neiswanger
Index picks up 0.59
to close at 441.39
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 0.59 to 441.39 Wednesday.
The index climbed to a record high of 442.99 during the trading day and ended with a third-straight record-setting close.
Total volume for the index was 21 million shares.
"Equities rose steadily through the day as investor sentiment remains positive with the Nasdaq composite index setting a closing high for the third straight day and the materials and financials sectors outperforming the broad market," said Leon Lants, managing director at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 06/07/2018