Henderson State University in Arkadelphia has received $342,218 in incentives from Entergy Arkansas Inc. for energy-efficient lighting upgrades.
According to Bobby Jones, Henderson’s CFO and vice president for finance and administration, Henderson received the funds in late February as part of Entergy’s CitySmart program.
Jones told Arkansas Business that the campus has, since 2011, been retrofitting its interior lighting fixtures with Schneider Electric, a French company with offices in Maumelle.
When work on the project began, the university discovered that Entergy would provide reimbursement for the project if it was energy efficient. The reimbursement, however, comes after the retrofitting is complete and inspected.
Jones said Entergy’s payment covers lighting retrofits for about half of the campus, and the university will soon begin a new phase for the second half, after which he expects Entergy will provide further incentives.
The school is engaged in other energy-efficiency projects, Jones said, such as replacing fan units and thermostats, and he said the school may become eligible down the line for some reimbursements from Centerpoint Energy.
Jones said both the project and the reimbursements were valuable for the university.
“I think for the university it’s extremely important, and not only that, for the entire state of Arkansas,” Jones said. “Energy savings were mandated by the governor through the year 2025: We’re supposed to be saving 20 to 25 percent in reduction of utility costs. We’ve got an energy savings plan, and this goes right along with it.”