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Ozarks Electric, Ozarks Go seek PILOT abatement for $200–$300 million transmission rebuild, says company will reinvest savings
Summary
Ozarks Electric Cooperative and its broadband arm, Ozarks Go, asked Washington County to consider a PILOT (payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes) agreement to accelerate a projected $200–$300 million transmission rebuild, fiber expansion and a Springdale crew office.
Representatives of Ozarks Electric Cooperative and its broadband subsidiary Ozarks Go asked the Washington County Finance and Budget Committee to consider a payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILOT) agreement that would allow the utilities to accelerate construction of major transmission upgrades, expand certain fiber projects, and build a Springdale crew office.
Michael Shaffer, identified as director of business strategy, and Chris Holloway, general manager of Ozarks Go, described several large, county‑focused projects the cooperative says are necessary to support growth in Northwest Arkansas. Shaffer told the committee that Ozarks built a county‑wide fiber network between 2016 and 2022 and that roughly half the cooperative’s electric members now subscribe to its Internet service.
Shaffer…
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