Fayetteville’s innovative use of solar arrays to power city facilities is reducing emissions and saving money, positioning it as a leader in Arkansas’s clean energy.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The New York Times highlighted one example in every state where there’s a positive solution to climate change, and for Arkansas, Fayetteville got the shoutout for using clean energy to power city facilities.
The overall piece was published on Dec. 10, called 50 States, 50 Fixes. Under Arkansas was the article This Arkansas City Shows How to Slash Emissions and Save Money, Too written by reporter Cara Buckley.
The article, published on Dec. 9, highlights Fayetteville’s solar arrays installed at the two wastewater treatment plants that supply two-thirds of the city government’s power.
The Fayetteville Climate Action Plan, which was adopted in July 2024, was spearheaded by the city’s environment director Peter Nierengarten, who was featured in Buckley’s article.
When 5NEWS reported on the plan’s unanimous adoption, it was seen as a way to solidify Fayetteville as a leader in clean energy.
“This new plan is really a holistic approach to addressing climate change,” Nierengarten said to us at the time. “All of these goals have strategies and actions buried underneath them that help drive towards the specifics of achieving these goals.”
Nierengarten spoke about Fayetteville being used as an example for Arkansas in the New York Times article.
“So we’re obviously extremely proud to be recognized by the New York Times. I think their recognition is obviously endemic of a lot of the great work that we’ve got going on across the city of Fayetteville,” Nierengarten said. “It’s been happening for many, many years, and to be recognized is fantastic.”