Entergy Louisiana has been given the green light to power Meta’s planned $10 billion data center that will be located in Richland Parish. Regulators cleared the way to build new natural gas plants and transmission lines to support the data center. The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved the proposal on Wednesday. The settlement was endorsed by the commission staff, Walmart, the Sierra Club, and the Southern Renewable Energy Association. Despite the approval, Commissioner Davonte Lewis dissented. Commissioner Foster Campbell, whose district includes the project site, called the deal a once-in-a-generation investment opportunity.
Entergy officials say the agreement ensures Meta will pay its share of costs while shielding ratepayers from major impacts. The settlement also imposes protective conditions to reduce risks of cost-shifting and secures support from groups that often oppose major utility projects. The scope of implementation will see the construction of three new combined-cycle gas plants. These include a 500-kilovolt transmission line and multiple substation upgrades. Meta’s plans for it’s Louisiana data center is one that has always been in the works and the current developments exacerbate the process.
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 be built in Entergy Louisiana’s existing Waterford site in St. Charles Parish. It is expected to start operations in late 2029.
The company added it will 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.
