JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – With the inevitability of renewable energy in Mississippi’s future, many wonder about the current state of Mississippi’s energy production.
Solar panels were on the minds of many Hinds County residents earlier this year, as Soul City Solar will soon make its presence known around Raymond and Bolton. However, solar energy only makes up a fraction of the state’s overall energy production. But despite Mississippi’s overwhelming reliance on more traditional sources of energy, the state is interested in lessening its carbon footprint. Below is an overview of the Mississippi grid.
Traditional sources of energy
The Mississippi grid is characterized by a diverse mix of energy sources and a significant reliance on natural gas. In 2021, natural gas accounted for 72% of the state’s electricity generation, making it the primary fuel for nine of the ten largest power plants statewide.
The Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station in Port Gibson is the largest single-reactor nuclear power plant in the United States. It produced 17% of the state’s electricity in 2021. Coal made up 8% of the state’s energy production that year…