The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) is a non-profit interstate compact organization created in 1960 and established under Public Laws 87-563 and 92-440. The Board’s mission is to enhance economic development and the quality of life in the South through innovations in energy and environmental policies, programs and technologies. Sixteen southern states and two territories comprise the membership of SSEB: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia. Each jurisdiction is represented by the governor and a legislator from the House and Senate. A governor serves as the chair and legislators serve as vice-chair and treasurer. Ex-officio non-voting Board members include a federal representative appointed by the President of the United States, the Southern Legislative Conference Energy and Environment Committee Chair and SSEB’s executive director, who serves as secretary.

SSEB was created by state law and consented to by Congress with a broad mandate to contribute to the economic and community well-being of the southern region. The Board exercises this mandate through the creation of programs in the fields of energy and environmental policy research, development and implementation, science and technology exploration and related areas of concern. SSEB serves its members directly by providing timely assistance designed to develop effective energy and environmental policies and programs and represents its members before governmental agencies at all levels.

The Southern States Energy Board's long-term goals are to:
 
bullet perform essential services that provide direct scientific and technical assistance to state governments;
 
bullet develop, promote and recommend policies and programs on energy, environment and economic development that encourage sustainable development;
 
bullet provide technical assistance to executive and legislative policy-makers and the private sector in order to achieve synthesis of energy, environment and economic issues that ensure energy security and supply;
 
bullet facilitate the implementation of energy and environmental policies between federal, state and local governments and the private sector;
 
bullet sustain business development throughout the region by eliminating barriers to the use of efficient energy and environmental technologies; and
 
bullet support improved energy efficient technologies that pollute less and contribute to a clean global environment while protecting indigenous natural resources for future generations.