Meta Unveils $10 Billion AI Data Center in Louisiana: A Game-Changer for Tech and Jobs

This Meta decision might push Entergy stocks sky-high

Meta has announced plans to construct a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana, marking a significant investment aimed at enhancing the state's technological infrastructure and job market. This development is expected to create over 500 direct jobs, with Georgia Economic Development (LED) estimating more than 1,000 indirect positions, culminating in upward of 5,000 construction jobs during peak activity. Situated on a 2,250-acre site formerly known as Franklin Farm, the expansive technology campus will span 4 million square feet. Governor Jeff Landry heralded this investment as a key moment for Louisiana. "Today, Louisiana begins a new chapter," he stated. "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector." The project comes on the heels of new tax reform legislation aimed at attracting capital investment and improving the state's business tax climate. Meta's data center will represent the largest of its kind among the more than 20 Meta facilities worldwide. The design targets significant data processing capacities, catering to the rising demands of artificial intelligence workloads. Kevin Janda, Meta's Director of Data Center Strategy, noted the advantages of Richland Parish, including robust infrastructure access and a reliable energy grid. "We're thrilled to be a new member of the Richland Parish community and are committed to investing in its long-term vitality," Janda affirmed. The AI secret fueling Palantir's 134% stock explosion Entergy Louisiana will collaborate with Meta to accommodate its growing energy needs through the establishment of new power plants. The utility will focus on adding clean and efficient energy sources, projecting to introduce at least 1,500 MW of renewable energy via the Geaux Zero program. Meta is committed to matching its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable sources and will also contribute $1 million annually to Entergy's low-income support programs. To bolster its workforce, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System has committed $250,000 in workforce funding to Delta Community College. This funding will enhance programs in construction trades and data center operations, directly addressing training needs arising from the initiative. Richland Parish officials expressed enthusiasm about the collaborative effort that propelled this project forward. Joey Evans, Richland Parish Supervisor, emphasized the unity among local stakeholders in bringing the project to fruition. The construction phase is set to kick off in December, with the entire development expected to continue through 2030. Meta will also contribute over $200 million to local infrastructure improvements, encompassing roads and water systems. The development is anticipated to spur further economic activity across northeastern Louisiana, affecting various sectors benefiting from the substantial investment. What's fueling Lululemon's stock growth: Global sales or something bigger? The project takes advantage of Louisiana's new incentive program under Act 730, which offers state and local sales and use tax rebates for qualifying data center equipment purchases. Meta is also expected to utilize the state's Quality Jobs program. Entergy has emerged as a major beneficiary of the artificial intelligence boom, with its stock gaining 1.4% to reach $153.73 on Thursday, following Meta Platforms' announcement of a $10 billion AI data center in northeast Louisiana. The tech giant's largest data center to date will rely heavily on Entergy's energy infrastructure, including three new natural gas power plants projected to generate over 2,200 megawatts over the next 15 years. Investors see this collaboration as a long-term growth opportunity for Entergy, aligning it with the surging demand for AI-driven energy solutions. The announcement has fueled optimism around Entergy's future earnings potential as it takes a central role in powering the AI revolution. Despite regulatory reviews by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the partnership with Meta showcases Entergy's ability to secure high-profile, long-term contracts with major tech players. Disclaimer: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We do not endorse any specific investment strategies or make recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities.

Meta Selects Northeast Louisiana as Site of $10 Billion Artificial Intelligence Optimized Data Center That Will Be Company's Largest in the World By Investing.com

, /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Meta and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) announced a artificial intelligence data center in northeast , a transformational investment that cements the state's status as a major innovation hub and leader in the global digital revolution. The 4 million square foot data center, to be located in , will be Meta's largest in the world. Construction on the facility is expected to continue through 2030. Meta projects the data center will support at least 500 direct new jobs in . LED estimates the project will result in the creation of more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the . The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on a 2,250-acre site. "Today, begins a new chapter. Today, we are delivering new jobs and economic growth on a scale unimaginable before we took office," Governor said. "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future. I thank Meta for their commitment to our state, and to the State Legislature for positioning to win this project by passing new tax reform legislation that attracts capital investment and improves business tax climate." Hyperscaler data centers such as the one planned for are housed in huge physical structures designed to process the vast amounts of data required to support digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads. The facility is the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers around the world. Once operational, the Richland Parish Data Center will be optimized for Meta's AI workloads as part of the highly advanced infrastructure that helps bring Meta's technologies, including Facebook (NASDAQ:META), Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads to life. "Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. And this data center will be an important part of that mission," said , Meta Director of Data Center Strategy. " in is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward. We're thrilled to be a new member of the community and are committed to investing in its long-term vitality." LED expects the project, one of the largest private capital investments in the state's history, to spark new economic activity and investments throughout northeast as multiple industries benefit from the billions of dollars invested. Meta makes a concerted effort to source labor and materials locally, and partners with local schools and organizations to advance STEAM education and digital skills that can be used to compete in the digital workforce. "This project is an example of what can accomplish when economic development partners play offense rather than waiting for good projects to come to them," LED Secretary said. " has been actively positioning itself as a hub for AI innovation, with plans to support startups, grow a skilled workforce, and shape forward-thinking policy. Meta's historic investment is just the beginning of a bold strategy to drive economic growth through AI, expand and diversify the state's tech sector, and prove to the world that when says that we are ready to compete on the global stage, we mean business." The company is expected to take advantage of a new incentive program, established by Act 730, that offers qualifying projects a state and local sales and use tax rebate on the purchase or lease of data center equipment. The company is also expected to participate in the state's Quality Jobs program. To power the data center, which at its largest point extends more than one mile from front to back, Entergy will add clean, efficient power plants to its system to meet growing power demands, including from the data center. Meta has pledged to match its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy and will be working with Entergy to bring at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy to the grid through its Geaux Zero program. In addition, Meta has committed to contribute up to a year to Entergy's "The Power to Care" low-income ratepayer support program, a figure that will be matched by Entergy Louisiana. "This partnership underscores Entergy Louisiana's commitment to powering progress and driving innovation," Entergy Louisiana President and CEO said. "By supporting this transformational investment, we are not only delivering the energy needed today, but also building the infrastructure that will support a brighter, more sustainable future for all of . Together, we're laying the foundation for economic growth that will benefit generations to come. We could not be more proud to play a critical role in this monumental endeavor." In addition to Meta's commitment to match its electricity usage with clean and renewable energy, the company prioritizes water stewardship in its operations, including minimizing water use at its data centers. Meta has pledged to restore more water than it consumes at this data center by investing in water restoration projects in . To support both the construction and eventual operation of the data center, Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) has committed in Workforce Rapid Response funding to Delta Community College to develop programs and expand capacity. will scale up its construction trades programs to meet the initial construction needs, and partner with peer institutions experienced in developing and delivering curricula for data center operations. Meta expects construction to continue through 2030 with site work beginning in December. The company has also committed to invest more than in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems. About LED Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for driving capital investment, job creation and economic opportunity for the people of and employers of all sizes. Explore how LED is positioning to win at OpportunityLouisiana.com. About Entergy Louisiana Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in . Entergy Louisiana is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: NYSE:ETR), a Fortune 500 company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies in , , and . It is investing in the reliability, and resilience and growth of the energy system while helping the region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship delivering more than in local economic benefits each year through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in , and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at Entergy-Louisiana.com.

Meta will build a $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana

The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels -- and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period -- nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made."

Meta Readies $10 Billion AI Data Center in Louisiana, Its Largest Facility Globally - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

The facility will run on 100% renewable energy, supporting platforms like Facebook and Instagram by 2030. On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, Inc. META and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) disclosed plans for a $10 billion AI data center in northeast Louisiana, marking a major investment in the state's innovation ecosystem. Set to be Meta's largest global facility at 4 million square feet, the data center in Richland Parish is slated to begin site work in December and expects construction to extend through 2030. The Richland Parish Data Center will be Meta's largest facility globally, designed to handle vast data processing needs for AI workloads. As part of its advanced infrastructure, it will support Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads. The AI data center in Richland Parish is expected to create over 500 direct jobs, with LED projecting an additional 1,000 indirect roles, totaling more than 1,500 new jobs in the region. At the construction peak, the 2,250-acre site will employ approximately 5,000 workers, the LED said in the press release. Meta plans to benefit from Louisiana's new incentive program under Act 730, which provides a sales and use tax rebate on data center equipment purchases or leases for qualifying projects. The company has also pledged over $200 million for local infrastructure upgrades, including roads and water systems. Meta will work with Entergy to add 1,500 MW of renewable energy to the grid, matching the data center's energy use with 100% clean power. Kevin Janda, Meta's Director of Data Center Strategy, stated, "Richland Parish in Louisiana is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward." Governor Jeff Landry said, "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future." Investors can gain exposure to Meta through iShares Global Comm Services ETF IXP and Vanguard Communication Services ETF VOX. Price Action: META shares are up 0.22% at $615.14 premarket at the last check on Thursday. Read Next: Meta Joins Big Tech's Shift To Nuclear Power For AI Ambitions Photo by Skorzewiak via Shutterstock This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Meta to invest $10 billion in Louisiana AI data center - SiliconANGLE

Meta Platforms Inc. said Wednesday it plans to build a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center campus in northeast Louisiana, making it the largest data center built by the company to date. The 4 million square foot campus, set to be located in Richland Parish, a rural area dominated by farmland with proximity to existing utility infrastructure, is expected to break ground this month and continue through 2030. The infrastructure planned for the data center will house networking and servers needed to process the colossal amount of data required to support the growing use of digital technologies and it would be optimized for AI workloads, which are particularly data and compute-hungry. Once it comes online it will be able to support all of Meta's services, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads. News of this data center investment follows other companies pushing to expand their data and compute capacity to keep up with increasing demands from AI and machine learning applications and workloads. Elon Musk's startup, xAI Corp. recently announced plans to expand its Memphis-based AI supercomputer called Colossus. The supercomputer currently houses 100,000 graphical processing units to train the company's AI chatbot Grok. The expansion will include at least one million GPUs to help the company keep up with rivals including OpenAI, Google LLC and Meta. CoreWeave Inc., the operator of a major cloud platform optimized for AI workloads, opened two data centers in the U.K. earlier this year and revealed plans to open ten more in the U.S. during 2025. "Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. And this data center will be an important part of that mission," said Kevin Janda, Meta director of data center strategy. In addition to bringing in jobs, Meta said it would invest $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems to support the data center. After the data center is operational, the company said it would launch its Community Action Grants program, which opens partnerships with local schools and organizations benefit from Meta resources to improve science, technology, engineering, art and math education. Meta pledged to match its power use with 100% clean and renewable energy, saying it will work with Entergy Corp., a major electrical provider in the Southern United States, to bring at least 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid. The company also said it intends to minimize water use at its data center, which can be a critical part of cooling infrastructure. NPR reports that the average mid-sized data center consumes around 300,000 gallons of water a day or about 1,000 U.S. households. Meta said it would reduce the impact of the new campus by restoring more water than it uses at its data center by investing in water restoration projects in Louisiana.

Meta's massive $10 billion AI data center is coming to this state

The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels -- and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At four million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period -- nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made."

Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility

Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details.The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use - and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period - nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made."

Meta Announces USD 10 Billion AI Data Center in Louisiana

The data center will be optimized for AI workloads and support Meta's key platforms. Facebook-parent Meta, in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development (LED), has announced plans for a USD 10 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana. Spanning 4 million square feet on 2,250 acres, the facility will be the Meta's largest in the world. Construction is slated to begin this month and will continue through 2030. Also Read: Meta Plans USD 10 Billion Subsea Cable to Manage Global Data Traffic: Report According to Meta, the project is projected to create 500 direct jobs in Richland Parish and over 1,000 indirect jobs, as per LED estimates. Additionally, it will employ 5,000 workers during peak construction. Meta also plans to invest USD 200 million in local infrastructure, including roads and water systems and will prioritise hiring and sourcing locally. "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalises one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future," said Governor Jeff Landry. Designed to power AI workloads, the facility will support Meta's platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads. "Hyperscaler data centers such as the one planned for Richland Parish are housed in huge physical structures designed to process the vast amounts of data required to support digital technologies, including AI workloads," Meta said. The facility will be the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers around the world. Once operational, the Richland Parish Data Center will be optimised for Meta's AI workloads, the company confirmed. "Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. And this data center will be an important part of that mission," said Kevin Janda, Meta Director of Data Center Strategy. "Richland Parish in Louisiana is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward." Meta has committed to operating the center on 100 percent renewable energy through partnerships with Entergy, adding 1,500 MW of green power to Louisiana's grid. Additionally, Meta will contribute USD 1 million annually to Entergy's low-income energy assistance program and restore more water than it consumes at the data center by investing in water restoration projects in Louisiana. Meta is expected to benefit from Louisiana's new incentive program, which offers state and local sales and use tax rebates on qualifying data center equipment purchases or leases. Construction is expected to continue through 2030, with site work beginning in December.

Meta is spending billions on a new US data center

Louisiana will see new job creation and local infrastructure investments Social networking giant Meta has confirmed plans to invest $10 billion in a new data center designed to support its artificial intelligence systems, and it'll be Meta's largest data center to date. With northeast Louisiana selected for its construction, it's set to spread out over 2,250 acres on a site formerly known as Franklin Farm, extending as much as one mile from front to back at its largest cross section. The data center will also include a four-million-square-foot technology campus. Work is expected to begin this month, with construction continuing until 2030. Construction alone is anticipated to generate up to 5,000 jobs, with 500 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs set to be created upon completion. In an announcement by the Office of the Governor of the State of Louisiana, it was revealed that Meta's investment could mark the "largest private capital investment announcement in the state's history." Governor Jeff Landry also confirmed that Meta would match its energy consumption with 100% clean and renewable energy, and that the company would invest $200 million in local infrastructure improvements including renewed road and water systems. Landry commented: "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future." Speaking about the company's decision to select northeast Louisiana for its next data center, Meta Director of Data Center Strategy Kevin Janda said: "Richland Parish in Louisiana is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward." Other state and regional benefits include Meta's pledged $1 million annual contribution to Entergy's "The Power to Care" low-income ratepayer support program (and a further $1 million annual contribution by Entergy Louisiana), and investments in training efforts to support the construction and operational workforces.

Meta to build new USD10B AI data centre

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The largest artificial intelligence data centre ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said on Wednesday, bringing hopes that the USD10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Governor Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels - and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said on Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centres. The United States (US) Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centres in the US to meet the rising AI-fuelled demand, which is projected to grow by nine per cent each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data centre will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said director of data centre strategy Kevin Janda. At four million square feet, it will be the company's largest AI data centre to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50 per cent, according to the US census data. Meta plans to invest USD200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data centre over a 15-year period - nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said state policy director Jessica Hendricks for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based non-profit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place."

Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use -- and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period -- nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made." Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

Meta to Build $10 Billion AI Data Center in Louisiana as Elon Musk Expands His Tennessee AI Facility

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use -- and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period -- nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made." _____ Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96 Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility

NEW ORLEANS -- The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use -- and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period -- nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made." _____ Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels -- and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. "We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level," Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period -- nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. "There's no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they're not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there's safeguards in place." Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. "It's going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America," Foster said. "I'm for it 100%." Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI's south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with "a stunning lack of transparency" in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. "Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them," he said, "and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made." _____ Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

Meta to invest $10 billion for Louisiana data center

(Reuters) - Facebook-parent Meta said on Wednesday it plans to invest $10 billion to set up an AI data center in Louisiana, in what would be the tech company's largest data center in the world. The hyperscaler data center, which is planned in Richland Parish, is designed to process huge amounts of data required to support digital infrastructure, including artificial intelligence workloads. The development comes a day after Meta said it was seeking proposals from nuclear power developers to help meet its AI and environment goals, adding that it wanted to add 1 to 4 gigawatts of new U.S. nuclear generation capacity starting in the early 2030s. AI computing has led to a massive surge in the energy needs of Big tech companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, sparking a renewed interest in nuclear power. But it will be tough to swiftly meet soaring power demand with just nuclear energy due to an ageing fleet of reactors, an overburdened U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, potential uranium fuel supply obstacles and local opposition. The amount of electricity used by the Meta data center in Louisiana, will be matched by renewable energy for which the tech firm will be working with utility Entergy. Entergy, which provides electricity to parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, has two nuclear power plants in Louisiana. The utility previously received legislative approval for investment in transmission and generation to serve Amazon's upcoming cloud services facility in Mississippi. Meta expects construction of the Louisiana data center to continue through 2030 with site work beginning in December. (Reporting by Priyanka G and Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)

Meta Selects Northeast Louisiana as Site of $10 Billion Artificial Intelligence Optimized Data Center That Will Be Company's Largest in the World - Entergy (NYSE:ETR)

Project is expected to result in 500 or more direct new jobs, more than 1,000 indirect jobs and 5,000 construction workers at peak. Expansive technology campus will occupy 4 million square feet on 2,250 acres in Richland Parish.Entergy worked with Meta to address energy needs, and Meta will match its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy. RICHLAND PARISH, La., Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Meta and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) announced a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana, a transformational investment that cements the state's status as a major innovation hub and leader in the global digital revolution. The 4 million square foot data center, to be located in Richland Parish, will be Meta's largest in the world. Construction on the facility is expected to continue through 2030. Meta projects the data center will support at least 500 direct new jobs in Richland Parish. LED estimates the project will result in the creation of more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the Northeast Region. The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on a 2,250-acre site. "Today, Louisiana begins a new chapter. Today, we are delivering new jobs and economic growth on a scale unimaginable before we took office," Governor Jeff Landry said. "Meta's investment establishes the region as an anchor in Louisiana's rapidly expanding tech sector, revitalizes one of our state's beautiful rural areas, and creates opportunities for Louisiana workers to fill high-paying jobs of the future. I thank Meta for their commitment to our state, and to the State Legislature for positioning Louisiana to win this project by passing new tax reform legislation that attracts capital investment and improves Louisiana's business tax climate." Hyperscaler data centers such as the one planned for Richland Parish are housed in huge physical structures designed to process the vast amounts of data required to support digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads. The facility is the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers around the world. Once operational, the Richland Parish Data Center will be optimized for Meta's AI workloads as part of the highly advanced infrastructure that helps bring Meta's technologies, including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads to life. "Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. And this data center will be an important part of that mission," said Kevin Janda, Meta Director of Data Center Strategy. "Richland Parish in Louisiana is an outstanding location for Meta to call home for a number of reasons. It provides great access to infrastructure, a reliable grid, a business-friendly climate, and wonderful community partners that have helped us move this project forward. We're thrilled to be a new member of the Richland Parish community and are committed to investing in its long-term vitality." LED expects the project, one of the largest private capital investments in the state's history, to spark new economic activity and investments throughout northeast Louisiana as multiple industries benefit from the billions of dollars invested. Meta makes a concerted effort to source labor and materials locally, and partners with local schools and organizations to advance STEAM education and digital skills that can be used to compete in the digital workforce. "This project is an example of what Louisiana can accomplish when economic development partners play offense rather than waiting for good projects to come to them," LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. "Louisiana has been actively positioning itself as a hub for AI innovation, with plans to support startups, grow a skilled workforce, and shape forward-thinking policy. Meta's historic investment is just the beginning of a bold strategy to drive economic growth through AI, expand and diversify the state's tech sector, and prove to the world that when Louisiana says that we are ready to compete on the global stage, we mean business." The company is expected to take advantage of a new Louisiana incentive program, established by Act 730, that offers qualifying projects a state and local sales and use tax rebate on the purchase or lease of data center equipment. The company is also expected to participate in the state's Quality Jobs program. To power the data center, which at its largest point extends more than one mile from front to back, Entergy will add clean, efficient power plants to its system to meet growing power demands, including from the data center. Meta has pledged to match its electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy and will be working with Entergy to bring at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy to the grid through its Geaux Zero program. In addition, Meta has committed to contribute up to $1 million a year to Entergy's "The Power to Care" low-income ratepayer support program, a figure that will be matched by Entergy Louisiana. "This partnership underscores Entergy Louisiana's commitment to powering progress and driving innovation," Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May said. "By supporting this transformational investment, we are not only delivering the energy needed today, but also building the infrastructure that will support a brighter, more sustainable future for all of Louisiana. Together, we're laying the foundation for economic growth that will benefit generations to come. We could not be more proud to play a critical role in this monumental endeavor." In addition to Meta's commitment to match its electricity usage with clean and renewable energy, the company prioritizes water stewardship in its operations, including minimizing water use at its data centers. Meta has pledged to restore more water than it consumes at this data center by investing in water restoration projects in Louisiana. To support both the construction and eventual operation of the data center, Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) has committed $250,000 in Workforce Rapid Response funding to Delta Community College to develop programs and expand capacity. Delta will scale up its construction trades programs to meet the initial construction needs, and partner with peer institutions experienced in developing and delivering curricula for data center operations. Meta expects construction to continue through 2030 with site work beginning in December. The company has also committed to invest more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems. About LED Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for driving capital investment, job creation and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes. Explore how LED is positioning Louisiana to win at OpportunityLouisiana.com. About Entergy Louisiana Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge. Entergy Louisiana is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation ETR, a Fortune 500 company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. It is investing in the reliability, and resilience and growth of the energy system while helping the region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in Louisiana communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship delivering more than $100 million in local economic benefits each year through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at Entergy-Louisiana.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meta-selects-northeast-louisiana-as-site-of-10-billion-artificial-intelligence-optimized-data-center-that-will-be-companys-largest-in-the-world-302322851.html SOURCE Louisiana Economic Development ETREntergy Corp$150.74-0.39%Overview Rating:Good62.5%Technicals Analysis1000100Financials Analysis400100WatchlistOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

AI Data Centers Sprout and Grow With Increased Demand

The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook's parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it "game-changing" for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels -- and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be "establishing operations in Memphis," without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren't enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9 percent each year through 2030, citing industry reports.