New Group To Promote Energy Projects In Miss.

TIMOTHY R. BROWN

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Former Tennessee Valley Authority Chairman Glenn McCullough Jr. is heading up a new nonprofit group that he says will search out promising green energy projects in Mississippi and help them navigate bureaucratic red tape.

McCullough said the key to avoiding bureaucracy and needless debate is to educate state leaders and the public on "sound, sensible energy policy."

The group of energy, business, community and academic leaders announced the formation of Advance Mississippi this week. McCullough, a former Tupelo mayor who headed TVA for six years, will serve as its chairman.

"Energy is a complex and a broad topic. We want to boil this down in public forums where we will have not only policymakers and business and industry leaders, but the general public," McCullough said. "They can learn about how these new technologies are safer. They are lower cost and more reliable and they have zero harmful emissions."

Among members of the coalition are former Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Nielsen Cochran and members of the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi and the TVA.