GLENN McCULLOUGH — Powering Mississippi’s economy – Mississippi Business Journal
Mississippi’s abundance and wide array of energy resources means we pay less than the national average for residential, commercial and industrial electricity. At the same time, Mississippi’s renewable energy resources are putting our people to work, processing the raw materials and restoring the forestland.
Mississippi’s 19.8 million acres of forestland fuels a thriving forest product industry, generating a $12.3 billion economic impact and 70,000 jobs, according to the Mississippi Forestry Commission.
A U.S. Energy Information Administration report shows Mississippi generated nearly 2.3 percent of its electricity from renewable energy resources during 2015, with wood and wood waste accounting for almost all of the state’s renewable electricity generation. Renewable energy sources contributed 56.5 trillion Btu toward the state’s overall energy production, ranking fourth, after crude oil, nuclear energy and natural gas.
The performance of Mississippi’s energy products draws worldwide attention. For example, Drax Biomass Incorporated’s Amite BioEnergy facility in Gloster produces a softwood pellet used by a British power company. The power company uses Mississippi-made pellets as a cleaner alternative to coal.
Click here to read the full story.