ExxonMobil had a preliminary conversation with Satartia leaders on Monday about a potential large economic development project for the tiny town.
Michelle Douglas, the mayor of Satartia, confirmed the meeting but said the potential project is still in early stages. She and others familiar with the proposal said they were bound by agreements not to discuss details.
ExxonMobil did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, and others familiar with the proposal would not say what type of development is being proposed.
Satartia, with a population of 40 people, is the smallest incorporated city in the state. It is in Yazoo County, about 45 miles northwest of Jackson.
Three large-scale data centers are currently under construction in Mississippi, totaling over $26 billion in investment, and they are some of the largest economic projects in the state’s history. In a September interview with Mississippi Today, Haley Fisackerly, CEO of Entergy Mississippi, said multiple companies are exploring bringing new data centers to the state.
Data centers being built across the country require huge amounts of electricity and water, and many of the deals involve energy companies.
Central District Public Service Commissioner De’Keither Stamps also told Mississippi Today that economic development discussions were taking place in Satartia, but he could not provide specifics because he had signed a non-disclosure agreement.
ExxonMobil has publicly said it plans on building power plants to service data centers.
“What I will say about that project is we are here and already doing our due diligence to support all economic development in the state,” Stamps said.
Although the specifics of the project are unknown, two people not authorized to discuss sensitive business details told Mississippi Today that it could be one of the state’s most significant economic development projects.
However, both people emphasized that the discussions are highly exploratory in nature, the project could be located elsewhere and considerable work would be needed at the state and local levels before the project could advance further.
