Bill W. Hornaday
Stories by Bill W.
Entergy electrical grid core of talks
posted: 08/11/2009 3:36 a.m. Discuss
Utility regulators from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and the city of New Orleans will consider creating a multistate commission to address the future of Entergy Corp.'s electricity grid.
Windstream's profits decline 11% from '08
posted: 08/07/2009 4:16 a.m. Discuss
Windstream Corp.'s second-quarter profits slipped 11 percent from last year, with much of the decline blamed on a slumping economy and tax related charges.
State power station a sleeping giant
posted: 08/02/2009 4:56 a.m. Discuss
Able to spool up 2,200 megawatts of electricity, Entegra Power Group's Union Power Station is the continent's most powerful natural-gas-fired facility of its type, former plant manager Bill O'Brien says.
Electric co-ops seek rate increase
posted: 07/17/2009 3:43 a.m. Comments 2
Seizing on a new state law, the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. asked utility regulators Thursday for a $25.9 million-a-year rate increase.
State 38th in ratings on energy efficiency
posted: 07/16/2009 5:11 a.m. Discuss
Arkansas is slowly becoming more energy-efficient, but it is far from certain how much long-term energy savings can be achieved without straining utilities' finances, energy experts said Wednesday.
Regulators appeal plant ruling
posted: 07/09/2009 4:56 a.m. Discuss
State utility regulators Wednesday asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to review the reversal of their approval of Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s coal-fired John W. Turk Jr. power plant.
Legal action unlikely, power plant's foes say
posted: 07/01/2009 3:12 a.m. Comment 1
Despite calling for Southwestern Electric Power Co. to halt construction at the coalfired John W. Turk Jr. power plant, opponents of the $2.1 billion project say it is unlikely they will seek a court action.
SWEPCO appeals plant OK's reversal
posted: 06/30/2009 3:15 a.m. Discuss
Southwestern Electric Power Co. on Monday asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision that reversed approval of the coal-fired John W. Turk Jr. power plant.
6 judges reject PSC approval of power plant
posted: 06/25/2009 4:54 a.m. Comments 2
The $2.1 billion coal-fired John W. Turk Jr. power plant project under construction near Texarkana saw a major setback Wednesday as the Arkansas Court of Appeals unanimously rejected its approval by state utility regulators.
Utility to buy lignite mine
posted: 06/24/2009 4:13 a.m. Discuss
Through its proposed purchase of a Louisiana lignite mine, Southwestern Electric Power Co. is affirming its longterm commitment to coal-fired energy.
Hearings on plant's air permit conclude
posted: 06/19/2009 3:47 a.m. Discuss
Nine days of hearings to appeal the air permit for the John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant closed Thursday with Turk opponents attempting to show deficiencies in how state environmental regulators assessed emissions data.
Engineer vouches for dry scrubbers
posted: 06/18/2009 4:18 a.m. Discuss
An engineer who helped design pollution controls for the John W. Turk Jr. power plant said Wednesday that costs were not the sole reason that dry scrubbers were chosen over wet scrubbers to minimize its coal-fired emissions.
3 secure interest in electric rate case
posted: 06/17/2009 3:28 a.m. Discuss
State utility regulators on Tuesday granted the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and Audubon Arkansas intervenor status in Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s forthcoming $53.9 million rate case.
Coal plant opponents debate another appeal
posted: 06/13/2009 5:30 a.m. Discuss
Opponents of the John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant continue to weigh their options after a federal appeals court dismissed their argument that construction of the 600-megawatt facility near Texarkana began illegally.
Expert defends data use for plant
posted: 06/11/2009 5 a.m. Discuss
A meteorologist Wednesday defended Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s use of climate data from Shreveport Regional Airport to predict the emissions impact of a coal-fired power plant being built nearly 80 miles away.
Foes of plant air conflict claims again
posted: 06/10/2009 3:30 a.m. Discuss
Opponents of a coal-fired power plant near Texarkana renewed arguments Tuesday that an alleged conflict of interest has compromised state environmental regulators' ability to impartially rule on an air permit appeal.
Judge dismisses emissions argument
posted: 06/09/2009 4:25 a.m. Comment 1
An administrative law judge Monday threw out arguments on whether carbon dioxide emissions were properly considered when state environmental regulators approved an air permit for a coal-fired power plant near Texarkana.
Using Twitter, Windstream engages clients
posted: 06/07/2009 2:23 a.m. Discuss
From her cubicle at a call center in Charlotte, N.C., Mollie Chewning serves as the voice and face of communications company Windstream Corp.
Judge hears latest in dispute over federal prison's electricity
posted: 06/04/2009 2:18 a.m. Discuss
Where is Uncle Sam when you need him?
Energy CEOs: Coal's future is clean
posted: 05/30/2009 2:12 a.m. Discuss
Energy consumers will soon see many changes, ranging from the vehicles they drive to how bills are paid, leaders of two of the nation's largest utilities said Friday.
PSC wants proof of groups intervening in rate case
posted: 05/27/2009 4:53 a.m. Discuss
State utility regulators want proof that a "grass-roots" organization of Southwestern Electric Power Co. ratepayers is just that - and not a shell group of environmentalists who already seek standing in SWEPCO's rate case.
Phone carriers say 2nd prefix best fix for 870
posted: 05/24/2009 2:58 a.m. Comment 1
By late 2011, Arkansas' 870 area code will run out of phone numbers, officials say. To solve the problem, carriers such as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless want to place a second area code over the same geographic area.
Plant's foes told to verify backers
posted: 05/21/2009 3:37 a.m. Discuss
State utility regulators want proof that all parties listed on a filing by environmental groups and ratepayers to intervene in Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s rate case agreed to take part in the proceeding.
More access called key for natural-gas vehicles
posted: 05/15/2009 3:14 a.m. Discuss
The growing acceptance of alternative fuels for autos is opening the door for natural gas, said Stephen Yborra, director of market analysis and education for the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation.
Judges hear arguments on coal plant
posted: 05/14/2009 3:55 a.m. Discuss
Oral arguments for one of several appeals filed by foes of the John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant were heard Wednesday by the Arkansas Court of Appeals.
Entergy chief warns challenge greatest ever
posted: 05/09/2009 4:32 a.m.
Unless the U.S. chooses to "fix what we've got" by making coal-fired power as clean as possible, the entire world could easily fail "the biggest challenge we've ever faced," Entergy Corp.'s chief executive officer said Friday.
Investors give a no to say on exec pay
posted: 05/07/2009 4:07 a.m.
As demands for a "say on pay" gain momentum in corporate America, Windstream Corp. shareholders narrowly defeated such a proposal Wednesday during the company's annual meeting at the Capital Hotel.
Turbine project draws doubts
posted: 05/07/2009 1:54 a.m.
The idea sounds like fantasy at first - placing 180,000 underwater turbines along 500 miles of the Mississippi south of St. Louis and converting river currents into electricity.
Students, their electric cars put to test
posted: 05/02/2009 3:31 a.m.
As fossil-fueled cars and trucks whizzed by on adjacent Interstate 30, about 150 junior high, high school and community college students at Pulaski Technical College's South Campus put their electric-powered vehicles through their paces.
Panel OKs wind farm power line upgrades
posted: 04/30/2009 2:51 a.m.
A Little Rock-based operator of one of the nation's regional power grids has approved $700 million worth of projects designed to move more electricity from wind farms in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas to consumers in the Midwest.
Justices reject review of Entergy case
posted: 04/28/2009 4:42 a.m.
The Arkansas Supreme Court has denied Entergy Arkansas Inc.'s petition to review a June 2007 ruling by the Arkansas Public Service Commission that rejected Entergy's request for a $106.5 million-a-year rate increase.
2 utilities claim right to serve prison
posted: 04/21/2009 3:59 a.m.
An erroneous letter from federal officials has a pair of electric companies at odds over which has the right to serve a federal prison in eastern Arkansas.
Hobby Lobby bucks wages trend
posted: 04/16/2009 1:53 a.m.
In times when many businesses are eliminating jobs or cutting pay, Hobby Lobby is bucking the trend.
OG&E readies refund, new bills
posted: 04/09/2009 4:11 a.m.
A rebate of $12 million in fuel rates that Oklahoma Gas & Electric over collected from Arkansas customers in 2008 will largely negate the first year of a proposed $13.6 million-a-year base-rate increase.
Duke chief cites keys to U.S. energy future
posted: 04/08/2009 3:56 a.m.
For the United States to become the world's most energy-efficient nation and lead a global push to reduce carbon emissions, two key things must happen, the head of the nation's third-largest power provider said Tuesday.
Hearing explores effects of grid plan
posted: 04/07/2009 4:50 a.m.
As the nation looks to modernize its power grid, Arkansas finds itself straddling two transmission regions. One is managed by Little-Rock-based Southwest Power Pool. The other is independently run by SPP on behalf of Entergy Corp.
Hundreds oppose utility's rate request
posted: 04/04/2009 5:11 a.m.
The battle over a coal-fired power plant that Southwestern Electric Power Co. is building near Texarkana has shifted to SWEPCO's rate case, with several hundred letters already filed with state utility regulators.
Rice seed approved for sale in state
posted: 04/01/2009 2:46 a.m.
State agriculture officials on Tuesday approved a Wynne company's request to sell a Louisiana strain of medium grain rice seed, giving Arkansas farmers more opportunities to grow a crop that has high global demand.
Utility set to refund customers $26 million
posted: 03/25/2009 1:27 a.m.
CenterPoint Energy plans to refund customers more than $26 million from April through October because of a decline in natural gas prices and an error in measuring gas shipments to Arkansas.
Entergy to seek coal-plant scrubber
posted: 03/22/2009 2:51 a.m.
Entergy Arkansas Inc. is exploring a $1 billion project to extend the life of its White Bluff plant near Redfield and cut some pollution by more than two-thirds.
Affiliated still owes $100,000, Dole says
posted: 03/21/2009 5:38 a.m.
Days after Affiliated Foods Southwest said it was back on solid financial ground, it was hit with a lawsuit Friday by Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc., which accused the distributor of failing to pay for more than $100,000 worth of produce.
Entergy: 'Slightly lower' '09 rates
posted: 03/17/2009 2:18 a.m.
Entergy Arkansas Inc. projected Monday that its residential electric rates throughout 2009 will be "slightly lower" than in 2008 - despite a 56 percent increase in federally mandated payments to Entergy utilities in other states.
Plant foes' call for pollution panel to disclose conflicts is denied again
posted: 02/28/2009 5:38 a.m.
For the second time this year, a request for state pollution regulators to disclose any financial conflicts of interest concerning their review of an air permit for the John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant has been denied.
Litigant: No facts to back the case
posted: 02/25/2009 2:44 a.m.
The Texarkana businessman who accused CenterPoint Energy Inc. and affiliates of running a "high-low" pricing scheme to boost profits at the expense of ratepayers has told state regulators he plans to withdraw from the case.
Coal plant cost $2 billion, seen rising
posted: 02/19/2009 1:46 a.m.
Overall costs to build the John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant near Texarkana have now surpassed the $2 billion mark.
Disclose conflicts, coal foes tell panel
posted: 02/18/2009 3:09 a.m.
Opponents of the John W. Turk Jr. coal-fired power plant in Hempstead County have renewed a request for state pollution regulators to disclose any conflicts of interest regarding their review of the plant's air permit.
THE STUFF OF DREAMS: In search of the bird - and the loot
posted: 02/11/2009 2:40 a.m.
The Bernie Madoff story has an Arkansas twist that links the alleged scheming money manager to the storied ivory-billed woodpecker.
Fire, leak shut down nuke reactors
posted: 02/10/2009 4:33 a.m.
Both reactors at Arkansas Nuclear One near Russellville were shut down nearly 30 hours this weekend after unrelated problems involving a fire in a turbine building for Unit 1 and a steam leak in a turbine line that serves Unit 2.
Windstream profits drop in quarter 4
posted: 02/05/2009 4:34 a.m.
Windstream Corp. profits fell 86 percent during its fourth quarter, but the tumble was exaggerated because of a one time, $451 million gain a year ago from the sale of its phone book business.
Request by power plant foes rejected
posted: 01/31/2009 1:53 a.m.
A request for state pollution regulators to disclose any conflicts of interest regarding their review of an air permit for the John W. Turk Jr. coalfired power plant near Texarkana has been rejected.
