As Energy Demand Grows, emPOWER Arkansas Conference & Expo to Convene State Leaders for Solutions-Focused Discussions
Interactive event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, workforce partners, students, and community stakeholders to address Arkansas's energy future ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
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.
“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,” said Lauren Waldrip, Executive Director of Arkansas Advanced Energy.
The conference is an annual draw for 200 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. Topics will include industry trends and forecasts; workforce development; energy policy; energy efficiency; energy affordability; renewable energy; transmission; resource planning; grid reliability; economic development, and funding and financing opportunities. A detailed schedule will be released soon, but sessions will center around solutions for Arkansas to meet its rising energy demand. According to Grid Strategies in their November 2025 Power Demand Forecasts, U.S. electricity usage is forecast to grow by an average of 5.7 percent per year between 2025-2030, with peak demand growth forecast at 166 GW, a 3.7% annual rate.
“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. According to the 2024 Dept. of Energy US Energy and Employment Report, clean energy jobs grew by 4.2 percent in 2023, more than twice the rate of overall US economic growth at 2 percent. This growth was evident across all 50 states. The 2025 expo attracted more than 200 students from across the state as well as job candidates interested in careers in energy. Businesses who are interested in participating are encouraged to fill out the conference sponsorship form or contact April Ambrose: workforce@arkansasadvancedenergy.com.
“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.”
Early bird registration for both AAEA members and non-members is now open for the emPOWER Arkansas Conference & Expo on the conference webpage: https://www.arkansasadvancedenergy.com/arkansas-advanced-energy-empower-conference-expo. AAE will share more details about programming and schedule as it becomes available.
About Arkansas Advanced Energy
The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association is the business voice for advanced energy in Arkansas. AAEA is dedicated to growing Arkansas’s economy through expanded utilization of advanced energy technologies, including energy efficiency, demand response, natural gas electric generation, solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, electric vehicles, alternative fuels and smart grid.
The Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation promotes greater public understanding of advanced energy in Arkansas through research, public education programs, and economic and workforce development.
For more information about Arkansas Advanced Energy and its upcoming initiatives, please visit https://arkansasadvancedenergy.com/.