HB1534 • 2026

Mississippi Energy Security and Agricultural Growth Act; establish.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI ENERGY SECURITY AND AGRICULTURAL GROWTH ACT; TO DEFINE PERMISSIBLE SOURCES OF CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY TO INCLUDE ADVANCED NATURAL GAS AND RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF RATEPAYER AFFORDABILITY; TO AUTHORIZE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE'S ENERGY GRID; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Agriculture Energy

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: McKnight, Hale
Last action: 2026-02-12
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass during the session, so it has no legal effect.

Mississippi Energy Security and Agricultural Growth Act

This bill establishes the Mississippi Energy Security and Agricultural Growth Act to define clean energy sources including advanced natural gas and renewable natural gas, protect ratepayers from increased costs during the transition to cleaner energy, and allow agricultural producers to contribute to the state's energy grid.

What This Bill Does

Defines advanced natural gas and renewable natural gas as permissible clean energy sources.
Allows public utilities to meet clean energy requirements by utilizing one or more of the listed clean energy sources.
Ensures that any clean energy investment remains the least-cost option for ratepayers.
Prevents utility companies from retiring reliable natural gas infrastructure if it results in increased consumer rates or decreased grid reliability.
Authorizes agricultural producers to develop anaerobic digesters to produce renewable natural gas.

Who It Names or Affects

Public utilities in Mississippi
Agricultural producers, especially poultry and livestock farmers
Ratepayers who pay for electricity

Terms To Know

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG): Methane captured from organic waste such as poultry litter or livestock manure.
Advanced Natural Gas: Natural gas used with carbon capture, utilization, and storage systems or high-efficiency combined heat and power systems.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during the session.
It is unclear how much investment will be needed for agricultural producers to develop anaerobic digesters.
Details on how public utilities will ensure cost-effectiveness are not specified in the summary.

Bill History

2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Died On Calendar
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Energy

Official Summary Text

Mississippi Energy Security and Agricultural Growth Act; establish.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1534 *HR43/R2216* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R2216
PAGE 1 (MCL\KP)

To: Energy
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives McKnight, Hale

HOUSE BILL NO. 1534

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI ENERGY SECURITY AND 1
AGRICULTURAL GROWTH ACT; TO DEFINE PERMISSIBLE SOURCES OF CLEAN 2
AND RENEWABLE ENERGY TO INCLUDE ADVANCED NATURAL GAS AND RENEWABLE 3
NATURAL GAS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF RATEPAYER 4
AFFORDABILITY; TO AUTHORIZE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO CONTRIBUTE 5
TO THE STATE'S ENERGY GRID; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 8
"Mississippi Energy Security and Agricultural Growth Act". 9
SECTION 2. The Legislature finds that: 10
(a) Mississippi's energy independence and economic 11
competitiveness rely on a diverse "all-of-the-above" energy 12
portfolio. 13
(b) Natural gas is the essential reliability partner 14
for intermittent renewable sources, ensuring 24/7 grid stability 15
for residents and industry. 16
(c) The emergence of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) 17
provides a historic opportunity for Mississippi's poultry and 18
livestock farmers to convert agricultural waste into a clean, 19
value-added energy product. 20
H. B. No. 1534 *HR43/R2216* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2216
PAGE 2 (MCL\KP)

(d) Formalizing these definitions will attract global 21
industrial investment and protect Mississippians from federally 22
mandated energy cost increases. 23
SECTION 3. (1) Any state agency or political subdivision 24
that imposes requirements or incentives related to the use of 25
"clean", "renewable", or "sustainable" energy shall include the 26
following as permissible sources: 27
(a) Solar energy and photovoltaic cells; 28
(b) Wind and Hydropower; 29
(c) Nuclear power; 30
(d) "Renewable Natural Gas" or "RNG", which means 31
methane captured from organic waste, including, but not limited 32
to, poultry litter, livestock manure, landfills, and wastewater 33
treatment; 34
(e) "Advanced Natural Gas", which means natural gas 35
utilized in conjunction with carbon capture, utilization, and 36
storage (CCUS) or high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) 37
systems; 38
(f) Hydrogen fuel and wood fiber products; 39
(g) Dedicated crops grown for energy production. 40
(2) A public utility meets any "clean energy" requirement if 41
it utilizes one (1) or more of the sources listed in subsection 42
(1). 43
SECTION 4. To ensure that the transition to a cleaner energy 44
grid does not burden Mississippi families: 45
H. B. No. 1534 *HR43/R2216* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2216
PAGE 3 (MCL\KP)
ST: Mississippi Energy Security and
Agricultural Growth Act; establish.
(a) The Public Service Commission shall ensure that any 46
"clean energy" investment remains the least-cost option for 47
ratepayers; and 48
(b) No utility shall be mandated to retire reliable 49
natural gas infrastructure if such retirement results in a 50
projected increase in consumer rates or a decrease in grid 51
reliability. 52
SECTION 5. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and 53
Commerce is authorized to assist poultry and livestock producers 54
in the development of anaerobic digesters to produce RNG, 55
recognizing such producers as "Energy Harvest Partners" in the 56
state's renewable energy economy. 57
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 58
and after July 1, 2026. 59