SB2057 • 2026

Wind power devices; prohibit certain heights for waterfowl conservation.

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF WIND POWER DEVICES OVER ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FEET IN HEIGHT IF THE DEVICE IS LOCATED WITHIN ONE HUNDRED SQUARE MILES IN WHICH ELEVEN OR MORE BIRD BANDS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED IN THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARS; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Energy

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Carter
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify if bird conservation groups are directly impacted.

Wind Power Height Limits for Bird Protection

This bill stops wind power devices over 150 feet tall if they are in areas where at least eleven bird bands have been found within the last ten years.

What This Bill Does

Sets a height limit of 150 feet for new wind power devices in certain areas.
Defines 'bird band' as a marker placed on birds to track them and reported if the bird is found or killed.
Explains that 'wind power device' includes windmills, wind farms, and turbines used to generate electricity from wind.

Who It Names or Affects

People planning to build new wind power devices in specific areas.

Terms To Know

bird band: A marker placed on a bird's leg for identification and study, reported if the bird is found or killed.
wind power device: Includes windmills, wind farms, and turbines that use wind to generate electricity.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not apply to existing devices built before July 1, 2026.
It is unclear how the enforcement of this law will be carried out.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/08 (S) Referred To Energy

Official Summary Text

Wind power devices; prohibit certain heights for waterfowl conservation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2057 *SS26/R676* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R676
PAGE 1 (aa\kr)

To: Energy
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Carter

SENATE BILL NO. 2057

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF WIND POWER DEVICES OVER ONE 1
HUNDRED FIFTY FEET IN HEIGHT IF THE DEVICE IS LOCATED WITHIN ONE 2
HUNDRED SQUARE MILES IN WHICH ELEVEN OR MORE BIRD BANDS HAVE BEEN 3
COLLECTED IN THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARS; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO PROVIDE 4
EXCEPTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this section, the 7
following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless 8
context clearly requires otherwise: 9
(a) "Bird band" means a federal bird band, auxiliary 10
marker or color marker that is: 11
(i) Placed on a bird's leg; 12
(ii) Used to study and identify individual birds; 13
and 14
(iii) Reported to the United States Geological 15
Survey if the bird is found or killed. 16
(b) "Wind power device" means a device, including a 17
windmill, wind farm or wind turbine, that is designed to use the 18
S. B. No. 2057 *SS26/R676* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R676
PAGE 2 (aa\kr)
ST: Wind power devices; prohibit certain
heights for waterfowl conservation.
kinetic energy of moving air to provide mechanical energy or to 19
produce electricity. 20
(2) On and after the effective date of this act, a wind 21
power device is prohibited from exceeding one hundred fifty (150) 22
feet in height if the wind power device is located within an area 23
that is one hundred (100) square miles in which eleven (11) or 24
more bird bands have been collected in the previous ten (10) 25
years. 26
(3) This section shall not apply to a wind farm or wind 27
power device if the wind farm or wind power device is under 28
construction or is in operation before July 1, 2026. 29
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 30
and after July 1, 2026. 31