Mississippi's Role in Obama Energy Policy

Mississippi business and political leaders are looking at the state's role in America's future energy needs. MPB's Patty Davis has more.

President Obama has released his administration's Energy policy. But according to Matthew Holden Jr., former commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the struggle to achive the goals will be a political one.

"The five issues, cap and trade, renewable energy and transmission, offshore drilling, nuclear power and coal. The broad having been declared, means the real debate will come harshly".

Yesterday in Jackson, Holden said Mississippi's role in that plan could be in biofules and manufacture of wind power machinery. Coal is another area where Mississippi could play a role. Marty Wiseman with the Stennis Institute of Government says Kemper County is hoping he is right.

"The effort to emphasise green jobs in the area of clean coal may be an opportunity for Mississippi. Certainly for a poor county like Kenmper County, an opportunity to take full advantage of that asset, is a big deal".

But Bill Philipp, chair of the Oil & gas association in the MS/AL division says fossil fuels will remain a major player.

"We all drive cars that are powered by gasoline, and that will continue for a long time to come. So, we understand that renewables have a place, wind and solar have a place, as does convetional oil and gas".

According to Holden, the biggest obstical to the widespread use of renewable energy, is the fact that the U.S. electric grid is not set up to deliver the power once it is produced. For MPB news, I'm Patty Davis