EMPOWER ARKANSAS CONFERENCE & EXPO
“Generating Solutions to Meet Demand”
Monday, October 12 - Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Central Arkansas Library System - Main Branch, Little Rock
Registration, exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are now open for Arkansas Advanced Energy’s annual emPOWER Arkansas Conference & Expo. The event will be held at Central Arkansas Library System’s Main Branch at 100 South Rock Street in Little Rock on Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
The conference is an annual draw for 150 of Arkansas’s energy leaders and experts across the state to network, engage in productive discussions about energy in Arkansas, and gain access to valuable resources and connections. A detailed schedule will be released soon, but sessions will center around solutions for Arkansas to meet its rising energy demand.
“While past conferences featured multiple breakout sessions, this year we are intentionally creating a more collaborative and interactive experience designed to bring stakeholders together around the most pressing energy challenges facing Arkansas,” Waldrip said.
The conference will also include a hands-on industry exposure component for students and job seekers through Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation’s SkillStream program. The 2025 expo attracted more than 200 students from across the state as well as job candidates interested in careers in energy.
“The emPOWER Arkansas Expo is designed to move beyond a traditional career fair by creating meaningful connections between students, job seekers, educators, community partners, and the companies shaping Arkansas's energy future. The Expo gives attendees the opportunity to explore real-world careers, interact with industry professionals, experience hands-on demonstrations, and see themselves in the range of careers available,” said April Ambrose, Director of Workforce Development. “The future of Arkansas energy depends on the people who will build, operate, maintain, and innovate the technologies that power our communities. As Arkansas faces growing energy demand and unprecedented economic development opportunities, building a strong workforce pipeline has never been more important. If you’ve been waiting for an invitation to join and guide our energy future, the emPOWER Arkansas Expo is where you need to be.”
“As energy demand continues to grow and important policy decisions approach in advance of the 2027 legislative session, it is critical that policymakers, energy developers, utilities, economic developers, workforce leaders, and community stakeholders have meaningful opportunities to engage with one another. Arkansas Advanced Energy is uniquely positioned to convene these conversations, foster productive dialogue, and help identify practical solutions that support energy reliability, affordability, economic growth, and long-term energy security for our state.”
Registration
Be a Sponsor
This year's theme, "Generating Solutions to Meet Demand," reflects the critical conversations taking place across Arkansas as our state works to meet growing energy needs while maintaining affordability, reliability, and economic competitiveness. The conference brings together 150 of the state’s business and community leaders, policymakers, regulators, economic developers, educators, and other key stakeholders for a full day of networking and discussions focused on the future of energy in Arkansas.
As a sponsor, you will have the opportunity to:
Showcase your leadership within Arkansas's advanced energy industry.
Increase your visibility among influential decision-makers and industry professionals.
Build valuable relationships with current and prospective partners and customers.
Demonstrate your commitment to advancing Arkansas's energy future.
If you’re looking to be an exhibitor at the Expo, you can sign up here.
Schedule
All events will take place at Central Arkansas Library System’s Main Branch: 100 S Rock Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
Monday, October 12
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. - emPOWER Conference Check-In & Opening Reception (CALS Rooftop)
Tuesday, October 13
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. - emPOWER Expo- free, open to public. (CALS 5th floor lobby area)
9:15 a.m. - emPOWER Conference Check-In Open (CALS 5th floor lobby area)
9:45 a.m. - Energy Demand Drivers (Darragh Center). Identifying the forces driving unprecedented growth in electricity demand and the implications for generation, transmission, and reliability.
10:45 a.m. - Collaborating to Meet the Energy Demand (Darragh Center). Preparing Arkansas's grid for unprecedented growth through generation, transmission, reliability, and smarter energy solutions.
11:30 a.m. - Break, expo exploration (CALS 5th floor lobby area)
12 p.m. - Keynote Luncheon: The Political Forecast (Darragh Center). A look at the opportunities, challenges, and policy debates that could define the 2027 legislative session and beyond.
1:45 p.m. - The Affordability Equation (Darragh Center). Energy affordability is shaped by policy, technology, markets, and consumer choice. This fast-paced session features organizations from across Arkansas sharing programs and initiatives that are making energy more affordable while strengthening reliability and economic competitiveness.
2:45 p.m. - Powering Prosperity (Darragh Center). Roundtable discussions about building public trust, protecting property rights, and creating the conditions for responsible energy development and long-term economic growth.
3:30 p.m. - Wrap Up: From Conversation to Action (Darragh Center). Together, we'll reflect on the conference's biggest ideas, identify common priorities, and define the next steps for Arkansas's energy future.
4 p.m. - end of conference
