Governor Discusses Future of Energy Efficiency

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Governor Phil Bryant was at Mississippi State today speaking to students about careers in energy efficiency.  The Governor is in North Mississippi to lay out his energy plan for the state and he says the one of the key components is the workforce of the next generation.

The program examined Mississippi’s energy future and finding solutions for the state’s energy needs.  The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy recently reported that the state of Mississippi is in need of the most improvement. When asked about the report Governor Bryant said, “We need to work harder at conservation and sustainability. Not only in the public sector, “we” can do a much better job.”

MSU President Mark Keenum says the future of energy development and growth lies in the hands of today’s youth. “We think that studies in the area of STEM, we like to call them, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which are areas we are very good at at Mississippi State, ought to be career ideas that young high school students should be thinking about for the future because the jobs are there.”

The event was sponsored by the Mississippi Energy Institute and the Mississippi Development Authority. Governor Bryant was recently named chairman of the Southern States Energy Board, which promotes energy-based economic development. Tomorrow he’s hosting an energy summit in Jackson.  The one-day summit brings together industry experts to discuss Mississippi’s energy future. Bryant plans to detail strategies for more energy production, research and job opportunities.