Entergy's $10 Billion Plan to Power Meta's Massive AI Data Center in Louisiana Approved

Louisiana PSC approves Entergy plan to power Meta AI data center with three gas plants

Louisiana's Public Service Commission has approved Entergy Louisiana's plan to build three combined-cycle gas turbine generation facilities to power Meta's new AI data center in Richland Parish. Two plants will be built locally, while a third will be constructed at the Waterford site in St. Charles Parish. The facilities are expected to be operational in 2028 and 2029. The commission also authorized new transmission infrastructure and expedited procurement of up to 1,500 megawatts of solar energy resources. Meta plans to invest $10 billion in what will become its largest data center worldwide, spanning roughly 70 football fields. Entergy estimates the turbines will generate enough capacity to meet the facility's energy needs. Industry projections show rising power demand from artificial intelligence projects is driving similar infrastructure growth across the United States. Also read: Vantage Data Centers plans $25 billion AI campus in Texas The PSC vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Davante Lewis dissenting over unresolved uncertainties and concerns about rushing the decision ahead of the scheduled October timeline. Public meetings highlighted debate about transparency and the potential cost burden on ratepayers, with some commissioners arguing the project was too important to delay further. Officials project significant economic benefits from the development, including permanent jobs, construction employment, and broader growth in northeast Louisiana. The scale of the investment is expected to bring both short-term opportunities and long-term infrastructure advantages to the region. Meta's facility is projected to consume nearly three times the annual electricity used by New Orleans, representing a major addition to Entergy's load. Critics warn that the 30-year lifespan of the gas plants could outlast Meta's 15-year power contract, leaving long-term risks for ratepayers. Nationally, similar utility-technology partnerships are reshaping the energy sector as artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for electricity.

Entergy receives regulatory approval for investments to support Meta's Louisiana data center

(Reuters) -Entergy's Louisiana unit received the state's regulatory approval to move forward with infrastructure investments tied to Meta's new global data center in Richland Parish, the utility firm said on Wednesday. Facebook and Instagram parent Meta said in December last year it would invest $10 billion in the Louisiana data center, in what would be the tech company's largest data center in the world. U.S. data center power use is projected to triple by 2030 due to AI expansion, prompting tech companies to explore new energy sources, including nuclear power. Meta in December sought proposals from nuclear power developers to meet its AI goals. The approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission allows Entergy's unit to construct three combined-cycle combustion turbine generation facilities, 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, and 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. (Reporting by Pranav Mathur in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)