Leaders announce creation of Advance Mississippi - focusing on energy

A group of Mississippi energy, business, community and academic leaders today announced the formation of Advance Mississippi, a coalition dedicated to identifying and promoting energy policy that will benefit and advance Mississippi’s economy.

To support the coalition’s launch and underscore the urgent importance of educating key stakeholders about Mississippi’s energy needs and the economic opportunities that depend on a reliable supply of energy, Advance Mississippi also released its first issue brief. Titled, “Keeping Mississippi Powered: A Snapshot of Mississippi’s Growing Demand for Electricity,” it provides data and analysis about Mississippi’s changing energy situation.

Glenn McCullough, Jr., the former Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority who also served as the Mayor of Tupelo, is Advance Mississippi’s Chairman. “Now is a time of unprecedented change in how Mississippi obtains and uses energy. Advance Mississippi will address these issues to ensure the state has superior and continually improving energy policy,” said Mr. McCullough.

“Mississippi is blessed with rich energy resources. We also face rapidly growing energy demands that must be met with smart, effective energy policy that will enable economic growth. Advance Mississippi will operate at the nexus of these issues to educate state leaders, the media and the public about key energy solutions, and promote ideas that are in the best interests of Mississippians,” said Mr. McCullough.

Founding member and former Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Nielsen Cochran also addressed Advanced Mississippi’s near-term priorities. “Our focus will be on issues education – for policy makers, the business community, and the general public – about the challenges we face from an energy standpoint, including the need for base load power and a diversified state energy portfolio. We will host policy forums, issue studies and policy papers, and discuss these and other matters with the media,” said Mr. Cochran.

Founding members include:

John Arledge, Community Bank

Nielsen Cochran, former Mississippi Public Service Commissioner

Quinton Dickerson, Frontier Strategies

Downtown Jackson Partners

Electric Power Associations of Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi

Hederman Brothers Printing

JBHM P.A. Architects

Glenn McCullough, Jr., former TVA Chairman and former Mayor of Tupelo

North American Coal Corporation - Mississippi

Noxubee Alliance

Ridgway Construction Consulting, LLC

Charlie Ross, former Mississippi State Senator, District 20

Southwest Mississippi Partnership

Sykes Sturdivant, Glendora, MS

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

Advance Mississippi Press Release
6/4/9