Meta Louisiana data center project has entered a new phase after its planned investment increased to more than $50 billion, making it one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence infrastructure developments. The expansion also raises the planned computing capacity to 5 gigawatts, while construction continues in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The revised investment follows additional commitments to on-site infrastructure and has been supported by Louisiana’s extensive tax incentive framework, which helped secure the project for the state.
The development, known as Project Hyperion, originally launched as a $10 billion scheme before expanding to $27 billion. The latest revision reflects growing demand for AI computing power across the technology sector. The project is expected to become one of the largest data center campuses ever constructed.
Meta Louisiana data center project drives major construction expansion
Construction crews continue developing the massive campus after work began in December 2024. The site spans former agricultural land in northeast Louisiana and will eventually provide approximately 5GW of compute capacity, more than doubling earlier plans for over 2GW.
The expansion also includes more than $1 billion for supporting infrastructure. Planned works cover roads, water systems and wastewater facilities needed to serve the campus and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, local suppliers have already secured more than $1.6 billion in contracts since construction started. The investment has strengthened demand for civil works, mechanical systems, electrical installations and specialist contractors across Louisiana.
Once operational, the campus is expected to support more than 1,000 permanent jobs. During construction, thousands of workers continue building one of North America’s largest digital infrastructure projects.
The project also reinforces Louisiana’s position as a leading destination for hyperscale AI infrastructure. Besides the Louisiana data center project in Richland Parish, the state is attracting additional multibillion-dollar developments, including the $10 billion River Bend AI Data Center in West Feliciana Parish. That project, led by Hut 8 with power supplied by Entergy Louisiana, is also under construction and highlights the state’s growing role in supporting next-generation digital infrastructure.
Meta Louisiana data center project benefits and incentive debate
Louisiana secured the project after introducing generous tax incentives for qualifying data centers. The state approved long-term sales tax exemptions on eligible equipment while promoting shovel-ready industrial land and faster permitting processes. Earlier reports estimated the incentives could save developers billions of dollars over the project’s lifetime.
Supporters argue the investment is already delivering economic benefits. Richland Parish schools have received increased tax revenues, allowing teachers to receive substantially larger annual bonuses. Local businesses have also reported higher sales as construction activity expands throughout the region. Meta has additionally pledged funding for workforce development, scholarships and community programs.
However, the project’s scale continues attracting scrutiny. Environmental organizations and consumer advocates have questioned the energy requirements needed to operate the facility. Entergy Louisiana plans significant power generation investments, including new natural gas plants and other generation assets, while maintaining that project agreements will protect customers and strengthen grid reliability. State officials are also reviewing additional safeguards for future tax-supported data center developments.
The project highlights the accelerating competition among U.S. states to attract AI infrastructure investment. As demand for advanced computing continues rising, developers increasingly seek locations offering available land, reliable electricity, supportive regulations and large-scale construction capacity.
Project fact sheet
Project name: Project Hyperion (Richland Parish AI Data Center)
Location: Richland Parish, northeast Louisiana, USA
Project value: More than $50 billion
Project type: Artificial intelligence hyperscale data center campus
Status: Under construction and expanding
Construction start: December 2024
Planned compute capacity: 5 gigawatts
Previous planned capacity: More than 2 gigawatts
Campus size: Approximately 4 million square feet in the initial development plan
Infrastructure works: Roads, water supply, wastewater systems and electrical infrastructure
Infrastructure investment: More than $1 billion
Permanent jobs: More than 1,000 upon completion
Construction employment: Approximately 5,000 jobs during peak construction
Local business contracts awarded: More than $1.6 billion
Primary purpose: AI model training and advanced computing infrastructure
Project team
Owner and operator: Meta Platforms
Project development: Meta Data Centers
General contractors:
Project location partner: State of Louisiana
Local authority: Richland Parish Government
Economic development partner: Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
Electric utility: Entergy Louisiana
Infrastructure partners: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, local water and wastewater authorities
Education partners: Richland Parish School District and Louisiana Delta Community College
Financial partners: Blue Owl Capital-led investment structure with institutional financing participation, including BlackRock-backed investors for portions of the project financing.
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