MISSISSIPPI

With soaring oil prices, Mississippi’s economy is ailing. Our reliance on fossil fuels is also furthering global warming. Global warming is a serious problem facing the United States today. Mississippi is no exception. The costs of inaction are staggering. Mississippi stands to lose 7,961 jobs if we do nothing about climate change. (i)

Mississippi’s agricultural economy could also be threatened by climate change. Greater amounts of rainfall (likely with a warmer climate) could increase the frequency of flooding. Likewise, our coastal lands would be subject to flooding from rising sea levels, projected to rise 15 inches by 2100. (ii)

At the heart of our economic and environmental woes is our dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Mississippi is currently dependent on dirty fossil fuels for much of its energy. (iii)

By investing in renewable energy, we can create thousands of good new jobs, cut our dependence on oil, and solve global warming.

Mississippi has the potential to generate 150% of its energy from renewable sources. (iv) This means new jobs for the residents of Mississippi.

All we need is effective leadership to get started.

SOURCES:

i. http://www.bluegreenalliance.org/site/c.enKIITNpEiG/b.3417259/

ii. http://www.nextgenerationearth.org/usstates/statelist/

iii. http://getenergyactive.org/fuel/state.htm

iv. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/Plugging_In_Renewable_Energy.pdf