Entergy Louisiana was given the green light to power Meta’s planned $10 billion data center in Richland Parish. Regulators cleared the way for the construction of new natural gas plants and transmission lines to support the facility. The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved the proposal on August 20, 2025 with the settlement endorsed by the commission staff, Walmart, the Sierra Club, and the Southern Renewable Energy Association. Despite the approval, Commissioner Davonte Lewis dissented, while Commissioner Foster Campbell, whose district included the project site, described the deal as a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity. On March 27, 2026 Meta agreed to fully fund new energy infrastructure to support its massive data center project in Louisiana.

Entergy’s Role as Developer, Operator, and Grid Integrator

Entergy is not just supplying electricity for Meta’s AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, it is designing, building, owning, and operating the entire energy backbone for the data center. Here is how Entergy is doing this:

1. Power Generation Buildout

Under Entergy’s agreement with Meta, Entergy will develop:

• 7 natural gas-fired power plants
• More than 5,200 MW total generation capacity

These plants form the primary baseload supply, ensuring uninterrupted power for AI workloads.

2. Transmission Infrastructure Expansion

To deliver power at scale, Entergy will also construct 240 miles of 500 kV high-voltage transmission lines

This significantly strengthens regional grid capacity while integrating the data center into the broader electricity transmission network.

3. Energy Storage Integration

Entergy’s plan also includes battery energy storage systems across three locations.

These battery storage systems stabilize load fluctuations, improve reliability, and support peak demand management.

4. Future Energy Mix Diversification

The utility is also facilitating longer-term energy transition through the following ways:

• Up to 2,500 MW of solar capacity
• Exploration of nuclear energy integration

The Project’s Financing Model with Entergy as an Infrastructure Platform

Additionally, a defining feature of the project is its financial structure governing Entergy’s role. This is as follows:

• Meta funds the full cost of energy infrastructure
• Entergy builds and operates assets under regulated oversight
• The deal is expected to generate also $2 billion in customer savings over 20 years

Entergy Louisiana Given Green Light to Power Meta’s Planned $10 Billion Data Center in Richland Parish

Reported August 21, 2025 – Entergy officials stated that the agreement ensured Meta would pay its share of costs while shielding ratepayers from major impacts. The settlement also imposed protective conditions to reduce risks of cost-shifting and secured backing from groups that often opposed major utility projects. The scope of implementation included the construction of three new combined-cycle gas plants, a 500-kilovolt transmission line, and multiple substation upgrades. Meta’s plans for its Louisiana data center had long been in the works, and the approval of this settlement accelerated the process. Entergy is part of Meta’s grand scale to construct data center projects as Meta advances with other projects such as its data center in Wisconsin

Project Fact Sheet

Significance:

• Supports Meta’s plan for a $10 billion hyperscale data center in Jefferson Parish.
• Strengthens Louisiana’s role in the digital economy and tech infrastructure expansion.
• Brings significant economic growth, tax revenue, and construction-related jobs to the region.

Infrastructure:

• Meta’s facility will span over 1.25 million square feet, designed for high-capacity data storage and cloud services.
• Requires substantial power demand, to be supplied by Entergy through grid upgrades and renewable energy integration.
• Forms part of Meta’s broader network of next-generation global data centers.

Developer:

• Meta is the primary investor and developer of the data center.
• Entergy Louisiana has secured regulatory approval to supply power and enhance the local grid.
• Supported by Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC), ensuring regulatory and energy compliance.

Funding:

• Meta is investing $10 billion into the facility.
• Entergy Louisiana’s grid and transmission upgrades are financed through approved ratepayer-backed mechanisms.
• Combined investment stimulates local infrastructure while securing long-term utility partnerships

The Scope of Implementation on Meta’s Data Center in Louisiana

The scope of implementation on Meta’s data center in Louisiana is one that is slowly but surely taking shape. In December, Meta sought proposals from nuclear power developers to meet its AI goals. However, the approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission allows Entergy’s unit to construct three combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facilities. They will be located in Richland Parish, two of which are expected to come online in 2028. The third facility will also be built in Entergy Louisiana’s existing Waterford site in St. Charles Parish. It is expected to start operations in late 2029.

Attracting data center development investment has become a battle ground for US states and the Meta deal is a big win for Louisiana.

The company added it will also further build several new transmission facilities for Meta’s data center across its operating areas. As part of the approval, the commission also authorized Entergy Louisiana to procure up to 1,500 megawatts of solar resources through an expedited certification process. Such projects show the importance, scale and magnitude of AI data centers in the US. U.S. data center power use is projected to triple by 2030 due to AI expansion. Furthermore, it will prompt tech companies to explore new energy sources, including nuclear power.