Office of Energy – Mississippi Development Authority

Mississippi Energy Services and Sustainable Development Initiatives Report

Legal Framework for Energy Services Contracts

Section 31-7-14 of the Mississippi Code authorizes public entities to enter into energy services contracts, energy performance contracts, or shared-savings contracts aimed at financing cost-saving energy efficiency projects. These contracts enable building improvements with minimal or no upfront capital costs, leveraging future energy and operational savings from the improvements. Typical projects include:

1. Energy-efficient technologies
2. Lighting upgrades
3. Energy management controls
4. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
5. Renewable energy technologies
6. Other energy-saving measures

Energy Service Providers and Procurement Process

The Energy and Natural Resources Division (MDA-ENRD) maintains a list of energy service providers qualified under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Qualified Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) program and certified by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Public entities may procure services from any provider on this list.

Contact information for interested companies:

• Phone: 601-359-3449
• List of Mississippi’s Pre-Qualified Energy Service Providers

Entities planning to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ) must notify MDA-ENRD in writing at:

Resources and Tools for Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC)

The MDA-ENRD provides comprehensive resources to support the procurement and implementation of energy savings performance contracts, contributing directly to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Climate Action (SDG 13).

• ESPC Toolkit – Best practices for building owners to successfully complete projects.
• DOE State and Local Solutions Center – Reports and resources for effective ESPC programs.
• Understanding Your ESPC Savings Guarantee – Guide explaining savings guarantees in ESPCs.
• eProjecteXpress – Online database for tracking project data and verifying savings.
• The Business Case for Measurement and Verification – Importance of tracking guaranteed savings in ESPC projects.
• Foundations of Energy Savings Performance Contracting in Mississippi Training Video – Educational resource from September 2023 event.

ESPC Campaign Participation and Impact

Mississippi has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign, a voluntary initiative supporting states, local governments, schools, and public-sector organizations in modernizing buildings and achieving energy and water savings. This campaign aligns with multiple SDGs, including:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The campaign promotes budget-neutral facility upgrades paid over time through guaranteed savings, supports local economic development, and addresses deferred maintenance. Mississippi collaborates with DOE and campaign partners to achieve $1 billion in measured and verified savings.

For more information, visit the ESPC Campaign website or contact ESPCcampaign@hq.doe.gov.

State Energy Management Program

The Energy and Natural Resources Division offers technical assistance and training to state-owned facilities to reduce energy consumption and costs. This program supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by promoting energy efficiency through:

• Building energy codes
• Data gathering and energy audits
• Employee education
• Energy consumption reduction techniques

State agencies are required to report energy metrics, granting access to online databases, video tutorials, and training opportunities.

Contact: semp@mississippi.org

SolSmart Program: Advancing Solar Energy Leadership

Program Overview

SolSmart is a national designation and technical assistance program that helps local governments and regional organizations promote solar market growth. As a SolSmart State Partner, Mississippi supports communities in achieving SolSmart designation levels—Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze—signaling readiness for solar energy development.

By 2023, over 500 U.S. cities, towns, counties, and regional organizations have earned SolSmart designation, contributing to SDGs such as Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).

Benefits of Joining SolSmart

Communities participating in SolSmart receive free technical assistance to adopt best practices, enabling them to:

• Support energy resilience and local power generation
• Achieve local energy and sustainability goals
• Increase clean energy sector jobs and spur business development
• Improve permitting and inspection processes
• Reduce and stabilize energy costs for residents and businesses
• Offer community education and engagement activities
• Create equitable and inclusive clean energy access programs

Program Leadership and Funding

SolSmart is led by The Solar Foundation and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article focuses on energy efficiency projects, renewable technologies, and solar energy leadership, directly supporting the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Through programs like SolSmart, local governments are encouraged to adopt clean energy solutions, improve energy resilience, and promote sustainable urban development.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Energy savings performance contracts and energy management practices promote efficient use of resources and reduction of energy consumption.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • By implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, the initiatives contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.
5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The promotion of clean energy jobs and local economic development through energy efficiency projects and SolSmart program supports sustainable economic growth and employment.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
   • Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Energy Savings and Efficiency Indicators
   • Measurement and Verification (M&V) processes to track guaranteed energy savings from energy performance contracts.
   • Use of the eProjecteXpress database to document and track project data, including energy and operational savings.
   • Reporting of energy metrics by state agencies as required by the State Energy Management Program.
2. Renewable Energy Adoption Indicators
   • Number of local governments and regional organizations achieving SolSmart designation levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) indicating solar market growth.
3. Economic and Employment Indicators
   • Increase in jobs in the clean energy sector and local economic development as a result of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
4. Environmental Impact Indicators
   • Reduction in energy and water bills as a proxy for decreased resource consumption and environmental footprint.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mississippi.org