Mississippi Gov. [Name] said Thursday that recent data center investments have resulted in about $2 billion in long-term savings for the state’s ratepayers. The governor made the remarks after Entergy Mississippi announced the savings, which are projected over the next 20 years.
The governor recounted that the first discussions about large data center investments took place in December 2019, after he won the gubernatorial election but before his inauguration as the state’s 65th governor. He said his team consulted industry leaders and community stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of protecting taxpayers and ratepayers in economic development efforts.
During negotiations with Amazon.com, the governor said he insisted that ratepayers would not be negatively impacted financially. Entergy Mississippi President Haley Fisackerly supported this approach, and Amazon agreed as well. The state worked with the Mississippi Public Service Commission to ensure no rate increases for consumers would be approved as part of the project.
The governor highlighted that these efforts contributed to Mississippi becoming the second-fastest growing economy in the U.S. in 2024. He also noted that the data center projects have helped the state build a sustainable, technologically advanced future. Entergy’s announcement also included approximately $5 billion in total savings for 2.3 million customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, based on agreements with data center customers in those states.
He concluded by emphasizing Mississippi’s responsible approach to economic growth and technology development, asserting, “Mississippi is leading… and we ain’t done yet!”
