J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., a major supply chain solutions provider in North America, has opened a solar facility in Gentry, Arkansas. This facility will generate enough electricity to cover up to 80% of the energy used by the company’s three main corporate buildings in Lowell.
Spanning 40 acres, the solar site features nearly 18,000 solar panels and over 10,000 bi-facial solar modules, which capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. The energy is then sent to a nearby Carroll County Electric power grid. The facility is expected to produce around 9.3 million kWh of electricity annually and will use net metering to transfer excess power back to the grid.
Greer Woodruff, executive vice president of safety, sustainability and maintenance at J.B. Hunt, “By commissioning this solar facility, J.B. Hunt is demonstrating our commitment to enhancing the communities we serve and to investing in economically viable practices aimed at creating a more sustainable supply chain. The annual amount of clean energy generated by the J.B. Hunt Solar Facility will be equivalent to that used by nearly 1,200 homes. And, by drawing power from the sun and not a carbon-based source, the carbon dioxide kept from entering the atmosphere will be equivalent to eliminating 1,400 passenger vehicles from the road each year. This is a great example of how we can create a more sustainable Northwest Arkansas for future generations who will also call it home.”
Construction of the solar facility started in 2024, with NextEra Energy overseeing the project and Verogy handling its completion. Trio (formerly Edison Energy) and Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation provided expert guidance throughout the planning and development process.
J.B. Hunt prioritizes sustainability across its operations, from equipment maintenance to engineering and technology, as it works toward building the most efficient transportation network in North America. In 2023, the company reached a key milestone, surpassing the halfway point toward its goal of cutting carbon emission intensity by 32% by 2034, based on 2019 levels. To learn more about J.B. Hunt’s sustainability efforts and available solutions, visit the Environmental Sustainability Hub on its website.
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