Energy Needs and Economic Development – a Must Have Partnership

As the cost of energy continues to escalate, lawmakers, business leaders and utility companies are looking for safe, reliable fuel alternatives. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports.

Mississippi is blessed with rich reserves of oil, natural gas and lignite. Lt. Governor Phil Bryant says those very resources can help boost the state’s economy.

“Not only affordable electric power for example for home owners but as we draw new industry to the state as we go out and seek new companies like Shultz that’ll be coming to Tunica. They’re going to demand affordable energy and we’ve got to be able to provide it. That’s nuclear, that’s clean coal it’s any system that we think will be effective to bring economic development here for the next decade and beyond.”

Glenn McCullough is the chairman of Advanced Mississippi and former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority. He says he also sees the economic benefits of diversifying Mississippi's energy supply.

“And obviously along the Mississippi River there are some coal to synthetic fuels. Tremendous investment in the state of Mississippi that will create good jobs. In Adams County for example there is a new plant. The liquefied natural gas infrastructure being build in Jackson County Mississippi will be a real plus to the people and to our economy.”

Some argue that the downside to converting coal to liquid fuel is that a huge amount of c02 may still find its way into the atmosphere. Dr. Patrick Moore, is one of the founders of Greenpeace. He told a group of energy experts in Jackson yesterday that while he was an opponent of nuclear war technology he does support the use of nuclear energy as an alternative fuel.

“Nuclear energy and coal to liquid fuel actually are very complimentary. In that the nuclear energy could be used as the energy source and the hydrogen source for converting coal to liquid and reduce those Co2 emissions.”
The Mississippi Public Service Commission recently approved plans for a major upgrade to the states only nuclear facility, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson. For MPB News, I'm Lawayne Childrey.