House Bill 1620

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHICKASAWHAY NATURAL GAS DISTRICT TO CONSTRUCT, EXPAND, OPERATE, OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS AUTOMOBILE REFUELING STATIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SELL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS AT SUCH STATIONS FOR USE IN VEHICLES TO BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONSUMERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings given them in this section unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context:

(a) "Compressed natural gas" means natural gas after it has been compressed for use as a fuel in a motor vehicle and shall not include natural gas prior to such final compression.

(b) "Refueling station" means property constituting a facility operated for dispensing compressed natural gas into fuel tanks of alternative fuel motor vehicles, which shall include:

(i) A refueling system; and

(ii) A building or other structural components constructed or installed as part of and directly related to such refueling system.

(2) The Board of Directors of the Chickasawhay Natural Gas District is authorized to construct, expand, operate, obtain and maintain compressed natural gas automobile refueling stations. The board of directors is further authorized to sell compressed natural gas at the refueling stations to both public and private consumers for use in vehicles.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.