(February 2026) Arkansans are heavily dependent on private transportation. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports that 93% of Arkansans reach work by private motor vehicles, while only 0.4% use public transportation. The 102,622 miles of roads in Arkansas dwarf the 2,505 miles of freight railroad and 1,860 miles of waterway cited by the BTS, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Private transportation relies on petroleum, the most efficient energy source. The announcement by automaker Stellantis that it will take a $26 billion financial charge as it resets from alternative energy is a powerful reminder of market forces. The firm said electrification would continue at “a pace that needs to be governed by demand rather than command.”
Proponents of renewable and alternative energy oftentimes overlook the supply-and-demand function of markets, preferring to achieve their economic goals through command-and-control actions by government. The supply of solar, wind, and electric energy cannot meet the transportation demands of Arkansans, nor are mass-produced nuclear or natural gas-powered vehicles feasible. Policy debates about energy in Arkansas should not ignore real-world economics that underlie markets.
–Greg Kaza
Sources
“Arkansas: Transportation by the Numbers.” Bureau of Transportation Statistics. https://www.bts.gov/sites/bts.dot.gov/files/states2020/Arkansas.pdf
“Stellantis announces $26 billion hit from business overhaul; shares plunge.” CNBC. February 6, 2026. https://www.cnbc.com//2026/02/06/stellantis-reset-business-electric-vehicles.html
