FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E) formally welcomed ABB Inc. as the newest Diamond Member of the Natural State Stewardship Program (NSTEP) during a facility tour and induction ceremony held Thursday, November 13, at ABB’s U.S. Motors and Generators headquarters in Fort Smith.
E&E Secretary Shane E. Khoury, right, presents the NSTEP Diamond Member certificate to Ryan Fitts, ABB Executive Vice President of Operations, during the ceremony at the Fort Smith headquarters November 13, 2025.
The event marked the official entry of ABB—a global technology leader—into the highest tier of E&E’s voluntary stewardship program, which recognizes organizations that commit to moving beyond regulatory compliance to achieve measurable, ambitious sustainability goals.
“The NSTEP program is fundamentally about partnership, and ABB’s dedication to stewardship is exactly the kind of leadership we look to celebrate in the Natural State,” said Shane E. Khoury, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment. “Their commitment, particularly their lower emissions targets and local initiatives like the Boys and Girls Club Garden Project, sets a powerful benchmark for other large manufacturers in Arkansas.”
E&E representatives tour the advanced development lab, where ABB manufactures 1.2 million energy-efficient Baldor-Reliance electric motors annually.
ABB employs 2,200 Arkansans across its facilities in Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Ozark, and its Fort Smith site produces 1.2 million electric motors annually under the Baldor-Reliance brand. The facility tour provided E&E representatives with an in-depth look at the advanced manufacturing processes that prioritize efficiency and sustainability.
“Sustainability is core to our global mission to enable a low-carbon society, and we are proud to have our comprehensive efforts officially recognized at the Diamond level by Arkansas E&E,” said Jesse Henson, ABB Motion NEMA Motors Division President. “This NSTEP membership reinforces our commitment to the state, our 2,200 employees, and the communities where we operate. We look forward to collaborating with E&E to continue conserving natural resources and setting new industry standards.”
E&E Staff and ABB Staff visit the local Boys & Girls Club garden, part of ABB’s community-based stewardship project.
As a Diamond Member, ABB commits to ongoing projects that drive quantifiable environmental improvements. Their strategic goals include:
- Net-Zero Target: Achieving 100% reduction of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- 90% reduction of Scope 3 emissions by 2050
- Circularity: Embedding circularity into at least 80% of products and systems by 2030.
- Community Stewardship: Supporting local environmental education through the Boys & Girls Club Garden Project, which emphasizes composting and food waste reduction.
About the Natural State Stewardship Program (NSTEP)
NSTEP is a voluntary program under the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment that encourages and rewards organizations for achieving excellence in sustainability and conservation beyond what is required by law. The program has three membership levels: Quartz, Turquoise, and Diamond.
About ABB Inc.
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. ABB has been present in Arkansas for decades, with major operations in Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Ozark.
CONTACT:
Melony Martinez, Chief of Communications
501.682.0889 (office)
501.837.2093 (mobile)