From July 2025 through June 2026, fossil fuels supplied about four-fifths of Mississippi’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources supplied about one-fifth. Gas dominated at roughly 76%, with coal contributing about 4.5%. Nuclear was the largest clean electricity source at 13%, followed by solar at just over 4% and biofuels at nearly 2%. Almost all solar electricity came from utility-scale installations. This heavy reliance on fossil electricity leaves considerable scope for clean generation to reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Mississippi?

Mississippi’s electricity consumption per person is not currently growing: the latest 2026 figure was about 26,400 kWh per person, down around 230 kWh, or just under 1%, from the 2025 record. Low-carbon electricity generation also slipped, reaching about 5,230 kWh per person compared with the previous record of roughly 5,530 in 2025—a decline of about 300 kWh, or 5%. These declines are concerning, particularly because clean electricity generation fell faster than overall consumption per person. The figures describe per-person trends, however, and do not establish whether statewide total consumption increased or decreased.

Suggestions

Mississippi can increase clean electricity generation by expanding its existing nuclear capacity and accelerating solar deployment. Nearby US states offer useful examples: nuclear supplies about 30% of electricity generation in Alabama and Georgia, roughly one-third in Tennessee, and more than half in South Carolina. These regions demonstrate a much larger role for nuclear within the southeastern United States. For solar, Mississippi can learn from the US states of Nevada and California, where it supplies about 35% and 31% of electricity generation, respectively, while adapting their approaches to local conditions. Expanding nuclear alongside utility-scale and rooftop solar would strengthen Mississippi’s low-carbon electricity supply and help meet future demand from electrification and AI.

History

Across 2024–2026, Mississippi’s reported low-carbon electricity changes were dominated by disappointing fluctuations in nuclear generation. Nuclear output fell by 1.1 TWh in 2024, recovered by 0.8 TWh in 2025, then dropped by another 1.3 TWh in 2026. Together, these changes amount to a net decline of 1.6 TWh—an especially concerning setback for Mississippi’s largest clean electricity source that calls for renewed attention to sustaining and expanding nuclear output. Biofuels generation declined by 0.1 TWh in 2024 and was unchanged in the following two years. Wind added 0.2 TWh in 2025 and remained unchanged in 2026, a modest gain that did not offset the nuclear losses.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.