Energy

SB 3273 expands the Sebastopol Natural Gas District to include specific sections of land across Scott, Newton, Leake, and Neshoba counties in Mississippi. It authorizes county boards of supervisors to join the district through formal resolutions, with Scott County leading the district's formation. The bill creates a temporary six-member board of commissioners (including county supervisors and appointed residents) to oversee the district's natural gas service expansion. This change directly affects residents in the newly defined geographic area by enabling the district to provide natural gas infrastructure and services to those communities. The legislation establishes the district as a local utility authority to carry out this purpose.

SB 3166 requires Mississippi's Department of Revenue to create a separate category for commercial solar and wind facilities in its annual inflation factor table for industrial property assessments. This directly affects owners of commercial solar and wind energy facilities by changing how their property value is calculated for ad valorem taxes. The bill mandates that if Marshall Valuation Service doesn't provide an inflation factor for these facilities in a given year, the Department must set it at 1.000 (meaning no adjustment). This ensures these facilities are assessed using a dedicated multiplier rather than being grouped with other industrial properties, potentially lowering their tax burden compared to the previous system.

HB 186 extends the deadline for repealing rules governing energy efficiency service contracts in Mississippi. It clarifies that public entities - including schools, hospitals, and state agencies - can use any available funding sources to enter into these contracts. The bill specifically updates Section 31-7-14 to maintain existing contract terms for energy efficiency projects (like HVAC upgrades or lighting systems) that were already competitively bid. It ensures these agreements, which may include shared-savings or performance-based payments, remain valid beyond the original expiration date. The change focuses on administrative continuity, not altering contract requirements or funding eligibility.

SB 2079 extends the deadline for public entities (like schools, hospitals, and state agencies) to use energy efficiency contracts under existing rules. It amends Mississippi Code § 31-7-14 to delay the expiration date of provisions allowing these contracts for equipment/services that reduce operating costs, such as HVAC systems or lighting upgrades. The bill clarifies definitions for "energy services providers" and requires prequalification by the Energy Division, ensuring contracts meet criteria like 20-year simple payback periods. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, so it did not become law.