J.B. Hunt launches solar facility in Gentry, AR

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, announced today the launching of its solar facility in Gentry, Arkansas, that will generate enough electricity to offset up to 80% of the power used by its three main corporate campus buildings in Lowell.

The 40-acre solar facility includes nearly 18,000 solar panels and 10,000-plus bi-facial solar modules to capture sunlight, which is then converted to electricity and transmitted to a nearby electric grid for Carroll County Electric. The facility will produce approximately 9.3M kWh annually and utilize net metering, which helps transfer surplus power onto the power grid.

“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,” said Greer Woodruff, executive vice president of safety, sustainability and maintenance at J.B. Hunt. “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 facility began in 2024. The project was managed by NextEra Energy and completed by Verogy. Both Trio (formerly Edison Energy) and Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation provided ongoing consultation throughout planning and development.

J.B. Hunt is committed to making sustainability a focus throughout the company’s organization – from maintenance and equipment to engineering and technology – as it pursues its vision to create the most efficient transportation network in North America. In 2023, J.B. Hunt surpassed the halfway mark to achieving its ambitious goal to reduce its carbon emission intensity 32% by 2034 from a baseline year of 2019.