SuperTalk Mississippi News
State of Mississippi, 3 Gulf Coast counties receive $51.8M in GOMESA funds
By Alyssa Arbuckle
The state of Mississippi and three Gulf Coast counties have been awarded more than $51.8 million for coastal conservation, restoration, and hazard mitigation activities.
The funding represents Mississippi’s share of revenues generated through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), with the Magnolia State expected to receive $41,470,571 in FY2022 funding. Additionally, Jackson County will be given $4,321,386, Harrison County $4,082,132, and Hancock County $1,964,124.
“As we know, Mississippi is no stranger to natural disasters. GOMESA revenues do much to not only shore up our coast with hurricane protection programs, but it also supports infrastructure, coastal conservation, and restoration projects,” said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The U.S. Department of the Interior administers the GOMESA revenue-sharing program that provides funding to Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas based on qualified offshore oil and gas leasing revenues. In all, the Interior Department distributed more than $353 million in FY2022 revenue-sharing receipts to the four states.
“Domestic energy production is a critical part of both our national security and Mississippi’s coastal resilience,” Congressman Mike Ezell stated. “We must ensure that GOMESA revenues grow by cutting bureaucratic red tape and pushing back against President Biden’s war on American energy.”
According to the Interior Department, more than $1.65 billion has been distributed to the four coastal states since GOMESA was enacted. The law also directs a portion of revenue to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.