Updated 21st August 2025 – 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 also 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.
20th August 2025 – Entergy Louisiana has moved up a vote that was initially scheduled for two months from now, with state utility regulators set to decide on Wednesday whether to approve a controversial power plant proposal. The project, designed to supply electricity exclusively for tech giant Meta’s planned data center in Northeast Louisiana, would involve the installation of three natural gas-powered turbine generators capable of producing 2,250 megawatts of power. Meta is also actively partnering with Silicon Ranch to develop a 100-megawatt (MW) solar farm for a Meta data center in South Carolina. The massive need for power has been a sticky point with communities when it comes to data center developments around the country.
December 2024 – In a recent development, Meta in collaboration with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) has plans to establish a new AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana which is estimated to be worth $10 billion. This huge facility will be the largest of its kind in the data center division of Meta spanning to about 4 million square feet with construction schedule up to 2030.
This project will have a lot of economic effects on the area. According to Meta, there will create at least 500 new jobs in Richland Parish while LED expects creation of more than 1000 indirect jobs. At its maximum construction, the project will require about 5,000 workers on a 2,250 acres site.
Governor Jeff Landry said that the investment is a game changer for the state of Louisiana and stated that the project will help revitalize rural areas as well as create high tech jobs. The data center will power Meta’s various digital platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
Kevin Janda, the Director of Data Center Strategy at Meta said that Richland Parish has adequate infrastructure, a strong power system, and a business-friendly environment. The company aims at procuring labour and materials within the local market and collaborate with educational institutions to enhance STEAM education and digital skills.
Support for the Meta’s New AI Data Center in Richland Parish, Louisiana
Entergy will help the project by adding more effective and clean power plants in order to satisfy the increasing energy requirements. Meta has vowed to pair every unit of electricity it consumes with 100 percent renewable energy and has agreed to collaborate with Entergy in order to add at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy under the Geaux Zero initiative. Also, Meta has offered to pay between $250,000 and $1 million a year to Entergy’s low-income ratepayer fund.
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System will also make an investment of $250,000 in workforce development at Delta Community College. This funding will increase the construction trades programs and design curricula for data center operations.
LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois described the new Meta AI data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana as proof of Louisiana’s strategy to become an AI innovation hub. She emphasized the state’s proactive approach to economic development and positioning itself as a competitive player in the global tech landscape.
It is not only the job creation that Meta is committed to. The company also plans to make more than $200 million worth of investment in the local infrastructure such as roads and water systems. They have also committed to water conservation; they have pledged to return more water to the local ecosystems than they have taken through local restoration projects.
This historic investment marks a significant milestone for Louisiana, promising economic growth, technological advancement, and new opportunities for the state’s workforce.
Read also: Tract Secures Approval for $20 Billion Data Center Park in Buckeye
Meta New AI Data Center in Richland Parish – Project Factsheet
Project Overview:
Location: Richland Parish, Northeast Louisiana
Investment: $10 billion
Size: 4 million square feet
Construction Period: Through 2030
Job Creation:
Direct Jobs: 500+
Indirect Jobs: 1,000+
Construction Workers: 5,000 (peak)
Site Area: 2,250 acres
Read also: $2B Central Ohio Data Center Campus: Expected to Cover 1.5 Million Sq. Ft.
Meta’s new $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana: Key Features:
Meta’s largest global data center
Optimized for AI workloads
100% renewable energy commitment
1,500 MW new renewable energy through Geaux Zero program
Economic Impact:
Infrastructure Investment: $200+ million
Local Community Support:
$250,000 workforce development funding
Partnerships with local schools
Up to $1 million annual low-income ratepayer support
Meta New AI Data Center in Richland Parish, Louisiana: Strategic Significance:
Positions Louisiana as an AI and tech innovation hub
Leverages new state tax incentive programs
Supports digital workforce development
Read also: Core Scientific to Invest $6.1 Billion in Converting Crypto Mine in Denton into AI Data Center
