White Hall, Ark. – Stone Bank is moving away from traditional methods of energy consumption and towards a more sustainable solution to fuel its operations: solar energy. Representatives of the bank gathered with the community today at a “Flip the Switch” event, celebrating the interconnection of their 219-kW solar electric power generation plant.

Located at their White Hall branch, the solar array will produce $1.1 million in lifetime savings and offset 79% of usage at six locations in Mountain View, White Hall, Little Rock, Harrison, DeWitt, and Gillett, Arkansas. In addition to its physical presence in Arkansas, Stone Bank has a nationwide presence in government-guaranteed lending through the USDA, SBA, and FSA.

“I’m proud of Stone Bank’s history of innovative thinking and customer service. This solar array keeps our operating expenses lean, allowing us to access funds we can use to enhance our clients’ experience,” said Marnie Oldner, CEO of Stone Bank.

The bank’s solar array boasts a carbon offset equivalent to planting 3,969 trees or removing 52 cars from the road.

Entegrity Energy Partners, headquartered in Little Rock, oversaw the development and installation of this array, guaranteeing it is grandfathered under the Arkansas Renewable Energy Development Act. This, along with the array’s long lifespan, ensures Stone Bank’s array will generate energy savings for over 30 years, creating added value for Stone Bank’s customers.

“Entegrity is proud to work with a groundbreaker in Arkansas’ banking industry. Stone Bank is once again demonstrating leadership in the business community, showing other organizations it’s possible to embrace sustainable energy while creating added value for customers,” said Elisabeth Bates, Asset Development Manager for Entegrity.

The 250-kW array will generate $46,000 in yearly savings for the County and produce enough energy to offset much of the electric utility consumption for the Phillips County courthouse, health department, and newly opened multi-agency justice complex, which houses the Phillips County Sheriff and Helena-West Helena Police operations. 

The solar array, located near the justice complex in Helena, is one component of the turnkey solution that Little Rock-based Entegrity Partners put together, which also called for upgrading to more efficient lighting.

Judge Clark Hall commented on the project “Phillips County is proud to host renewable energy sources and we are excited this project will save taxpayer money.”

This addition to LRWRA’s operations comes amid a 20-year capital improvement plan to increase wastewater treatment capacity, update antiquated portions of the piping system, and provide service to areas not connected to the system. Currently, the LRWRA has 1,400 miles of public sewer pipes in its footprint, providing sewer services to 71,000 homes and businesses. The utility is responsible for all wastewater collection and treatment and is entrusted with returning reclaimed water to the Arkansas River. LRWRA ensures all water undergoes a thorough cleaning process before being released into the Arkansas River. Thanks to this process, LRWRA returns water seven times cleaner than the river.

LRWRA saw an opportunity to utilize green energy and save money using solar energy. “The new solar array allows us to pursue carbon reduction while reducing our costs and allocate those funds for improving the system infrastructure, making this investment a wise use of resources. The addition of this solar array to the utility’s bio-gas generation system means over 40 percent of LRWRA’s energy needs come from renewable sources,” stated Greg Ramon, CEO at LRWRA.

In addition to cost savings, the 3,840-module array will produce enough kWh savings to offset EPA emissions comparable to those produced by 254 homes’ annual energy use or burning 2,234,665 pounds of coal.

Entegrity Energy Partners, headquartered in Little Rock, is overseeing the installation and operation of the solar array. The company specializes in sustainable energy solutions that bring down operating costs for both private and public entities. Entegrity’s

“Entegrity is honored to help LRWRA realize energy savings. This is a great way for public entities to be able to invest in infrastructure and other upgrades,” said Parker Higgs, Arkansas Director for Entegrity.

ESD entered into a Solar Services Agreement (SSA) with Entegrity, an energy efficiency and solar company headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. With an SSA, the District creates savings by purchasing renewable energy from Entegrity at a fixed price lower than their current electricity rate.

Jim Tucker, Superintendent of El Dorado School District, stated, “We are extremely excited to see this project come to life. Thanks to the School Board’s support, this project will bring our schools significant cost savings over its lifetime and allow us to divert funds to support our students and their learning environment.”

The solar energy produced by the new array will also make an environmental impact with carbon reductions equivalent to saving 310,602 gallons of gasoline or powering 348 homes for a year. ESD students will gain firsthand experience with the rapidly growing renewable energy industry, learning how solar energy positively impacts their everyday lives.

Pending approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission, Entegrity is expected to begin construction during the second quarter of 2023.

Tim Thompson, vice president, operations of Cal-Maine Foods, said, “We are proud of our mission to be the most sustainable producer and reliable supplier of high-quality fresh shell eggs and egg products in the United States, demonstrating a “Culture of Sustainability” in everything we do. The team at Searcy is excited to support this project, and to be a part of the forward-looking operational story at Cal-Maine Foods. We believe that this solar investment helps augment the Searcy farm’s commitment to sustainability and helps us become more resilient in our ability to meet customers’ needs.”

Michael Parker, president of Entegrity, commented, “We have recently seen an increased drive for solar solutions in Arkansas given the constructive regulatory environment, attractive potential returns on investments and enhanced commitment to sustainability goals. For more than 15 years, and through nearly 350 projects, we have strived to partner with companies that share our vision of a sustainable future. With Cal-Maine Foods, we can deliver our energy expertise to help prepare the company for a more sustainable future. Their enthusiasm for this project speaks to their values and who they are as a company.”

About Cal-Maine Foods

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, marketing and distribution of fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic, brown, free-range, pasture-raised and nutritionally enhanced eggs. The Company, which is headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells the majority of its shell eggs in states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

About Entegrity

Entegrity is an energy services, sustainability and solar development company. Our comprehensive service package includes energy savings performance contracting, commissioning, energy modeling, building testing, lighting solutions, renewable energy, water conservation, and sustainability consulting.

The finished project will save the City more than $1.3 million over its lifetime. When added to the lifetime savings from the project’s first phase, the energy-efficient measures will bring more than $3 million in total energy savings to the City.

“We wanted to create an efficiency project with the most impact for our City and its citizens. The savings achieved by this project will allow us to free up city funds, reduce taxpayer burden, and re-invest in our community,” said Mayor Jerry Martin.

John Coleman, Regional Director of Entegrity, added, “It’s rewarding to see cities take advantage of favorable solar legislation in Arkansas and prioritize responsible stewardship of public funds. Mayor Martin and the City of Alma are preparing for the future by hedging against inflation.”  

At 625 kW-AC, this array brings the City’s total solar holdings to 1 MW-AC.

“This comprehensive project is yet another way our district has combated rising expenses in order to keep funds where they matter—in the district,” said Jon Laffoon, Farmington School District Superintendent. “Credit goes to our board for being good stewards of our community’s millage by paying for these upgrades with one-time federal funds, record-low interest rates, and taking advantage of new solar legislation.” With more than $6 million in savings to be realized over the lifetime of this project, FSD will use the savings to fund teacher retention initiatives and classroom advancement.  

In addition to the positive financial impact, the on-site solar arrays allow Farmington students to have first-hand experience with the rapidly growing renewable energy industry, the fastest- growing occupation of the next decade. Travis Warren, School Board President, added, “We are excited to be able to enhance our academic environments and provide a unique learning experience for our students, staff, and community centered on sustainability.”

“Working with Mr. Laffoon and the school board on this impactful project in my hometown has been immensely gratifying. I am proud to be a graduate of Farmington,” added Adam Ness of Entegrity. 

The initiative is the next step in advancing the College’s sustainability goals by combining cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades to campus buildings and using lower-cost renewable energy to power the campus.

Through a solar services agreement, Lyon College will purchase renewable energy from Entegrity in the form of solar energy that will cover approximately 30 percent of the College’s electricity usage at a lower rate than the College is currently paying for electricity.

Through an energy-efficient lighting installation agreement, Entegrity will install energy-saving LED lighting in many of Lyon College’s campus buildings.

“Exhibiting their commitment to realizing the College’s sustainability objectives, the Lyon College Board and Administration have made a decision that will promote the College’s sustainability objectives campus-wide and benefit students, staff, and the environment for years to come,” added Business Development Executive Jacob Estes.  

The agreement also will enable Lyon College to explore other amenities such as solar-powered picnic tables that will allow students to power up their computers and other electronic devices without connecting to the grid. A group of faculty and staff interested in pursuing other sustainability initiatives will continue working with Entegrity to identify opportunities to educate the campus community about strategies individuals and institutions can use to support a healthy environment.  “Lyon College is dedicated to being a good steward of our environmental resources,” said Dr. Melissa Taverner, Lyon College President. “As the renewable energy sector continues to grow and develop in Arkansas, these agreements serve to re-confirm Lyon College’s commitment to supporting environmentally beneficial projects that also make sound financial sense.”

“We are excited to support and renew our membership with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). We look forward to this opportunity to learn from and provide mentorship to the other members involved in AASHE, working to lead higher education campuses to a more sustainable future,” said Entegrity’s Chief Operating Officer, Jack Bosch.

AASHE enables colleges and universities to meet their sustainability goals by providing specialized resources, professional development, and a network for sharing information about sustainability products and services. Membership covers the entire business, so everyone can take advantage of event discounts, access to member-only resources, and other benefits.

“We believe that everyone plays an important role in advancing sustainability, and we are grateful to have leaders such as Entegrity as part of the AASHE community,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “AASHE business members provide innovative products and services that are critical to colleges and universities working to improve their sustainability performance.”

Among AASHE’s major programs is the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS®), a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of colleges and universities – from community colleges to research universities – and encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability.

About the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org. Follow AASHE on Facebook and Twitter.