MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Agriculture
By: Representatives Pigott, Aguirre, Grady, Lott, Mangold, Morgan, Smith, Tubb
AN ACT TO CREATE A STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE UNINTENDED IMPACT OF WIND TURBINE USAGE IN AGRICULTURE; TO DESIGNATE THE MEMBERS OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW WIND TURBINE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS UNTIL AFTER JULY 1, 2026; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is created a study committee for the purpose of studying the impact of wind turbine usage in agriculture. The instillation and usage of wind turbines are potentially having unintended impacts on surrounding properties, the aquifer and agricultural aviation pilots. It shall be the duty of this study committee to comprehensively research these potential issues and report back to the Legislature with the committee's recommendations and the appropriate legislation to enact into law those recommendations.
(2) The study committee shall be comprised of the following nine (9) members:
(a) The Public Service Commissioner, or his or her designee;
(b) A representative of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality;
(c) A representative from the Mississippi State University Agricultural Department;
(d) The President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, or his or her designee;
(e) The President of the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association, or his or her designee;
(f) A representative from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce;
(g) The Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, or his or her designee;
(h) The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, or his or her designee; and
(i) The President of Delta Council, or his or her designee.
(3) This study committee shall meet to discuss and provide recommendations and proposed legislation for the following topics:
(a) The setbacks that are necessary to prevent wind turbines from causing property right infringement issues due to the potential displacement of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other airborne farming substances that could be displaced to neighboring properties due to the gusts created by wind turbines;
(b) The impact wind turbine instillation is having on the aquifer and other nearby water sources;
(c) Any potential safety concerns or issues that wind turbines cause agricultural aviation pilots to experience; and
(d) Any other information deemed relevant and necessary to accomplish the tasks assigned in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this subsection.
(4) Appointments to the study committee shall be made within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act. The Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman, or his or her designee, shall serve as the chairman of the study committee. At the first meeting, the committee shall elect from among its members a vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary, and shall adopt rules for transacting business and keeping records. The study committee shall develop and report its findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature on or before December 1, 2025.
(5) A majority of the members of the study committee shall constitute a quorum. In the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, and in the election of a vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary, an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be required.
(6) Members of the study committee shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses in the same manner as public employees are reimbursed for official duties from any available funds, and members of the Legislature shall be reimbursed in the same manner as for attending out-of-session committee meetings.
(7) The Legislature shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the study committee to perform its duties. (8) To effectuate the purposes of this act, any department, division, board, bureau, committee, institution or agency of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, shall, at the request of the chairman of the study committee, provide the facilities, assistance, information and data needed to enable the study committee to carry out its duties.
(9) The study committee shall be dissolved on or before January 1, 2026.
(10) To prevent causing further damage before the committee can complete the study on wind turbines and have the opportunity to enact legislation to address potential areas of concern, there shall be a moratorium on new wind turbine building contracts, leases and permits beginning from the passage of this act until July 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.