Atmos Energy, Public Service Commission unveil new gas pipeline at MSU Horse Park
Atmos Energy and the Mississippi Public Service Commission announced Thursday a new natural gas pipeline leading to the Mississippi State University Horse Park as part of an ongoing effort to expand natural gas availability to underserved areas.
Brandon Presley, Northern Commissioner for the PSC, said the state currently has about 10,000 miles of natural gas pipeline. Mississippi, he said, is hit harder by the home costs, such as heating and energy, and expanding access to low-cost natural gas will bring relief to those in rural areas.
Spruill said the city has tried various methods to promote the census and increase participation, including social media PSAS, partnering with community organizations and churches and announcements at city meetings. Unfortunately, she said, the efforts do not seem to have been effective.
“I have no idea why something as simple and important as this has received such low participation,” she said.
The federal census was established by the U.S. Constitution to conduct a complete count of the population every 10 years. Data from the census is used to direct billions of dollars allocated across more than 100 federal programs and grants, including Community Development Block Grants, highway funding and the National School Lunch Program. Census data is also used to determine states’ representation in the House of Representatives and guides redistricting efforts.
Currently, the Census Bureau is training individual census takers to go door-to-door and gather information from residents who have not responded. The door-to-door visits are scheduled to begin Aug. 11.
Spruill said responding to the census can easily be done. It is not difficult and takes only a few minutes.
“It’s like a 5-minute deal,” she said. “It’s so easy.”
Residents can complete their census response online at my2020census.gov or by calling 844330-2020.