Meta, the parent company of Facebook, plans to invest billions of dollars in northern Louisiana to build an artificial intelligence data center. The project is expected to create 300 to 500 jobs and help enhance Louisiana's position in key technological infrastructure.
According to an application submitted to state regulators, an unnamed company plans to construct a "large-scale facility with the potential for economic transformation" near Holly Ridge in Richland Parish.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, licensed from Midjourney
Recently, economic development officials and regulators revealed that this project is indeed a data center. Two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated that the company is Meta. Data centers are massive buildings filled with computer servers and other IT infrastructure, playing a crucial role in driving the rapid growth of the global technology industry.
Companies like Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in building these processing centers both in the U.S. and abroad. The scale of this project in Louisiana is unprecedented, and state economic development officials hope to attract high-paying jobs through new tax incentives. This project will also be a significant economic development victory for Republican Governor Jeff Landry, who is working to reduce corporate tax rates and implement other business-friendly initiatives.
Meta has not yet responded to inquiries about the project. According to documents submitted by Entergy, the construction cost of the project is approximately $5 billion, with an expected average salary of $82,000 for the jobs created. Entergy is seeking approval from the Public Service Commission to build three new natural gas power plants and other updated facilities, which will cost at least $3.2 billion, to provide power for the data center.
During a forum discussion, Public Service Commission member Eric Skrmetta stated that the data center is expected to be operational within three years. He also mentioned that three other AI data center projects are currently being planned in central Louisiana.
Due to low electricity costs and a business-friendly regulatory process, more tech companies are starting to favor this region. However, the project faces some opposition, including concerns from groups such as the Sierra Club and the Southern Renewable Energy Association, which have raised issues about the data center's reliance on fossil fuels, high water demand, and potential impacts on electricity rates.
If approved, this data center project would change the economic landscape of Richland Parish, which has about 20,000 residents facing long-term poverty issues. Meta plans to build the data center on a 2,250-acre agricultural site, surrounded by two power plants.
The Louisiana Economic Development Agency is actively supporting the construction of data centers and has passed legislation to provide tax credits for the software and equipment of data centers. The state's technical college system is working with the government to develop training programs to cultivate the talent needed for the future.
Key Points:
🌟 Meta plans to invest billions in Louisiana to build an AI data center, expected to create 300 to 500 high-paying jobs.
⚡ The project requires approval from the Public Service Commission and faces opposition from environmental organizations.
🏗️ The construction of the data center is expected to change the economic landscape of Richland Parish, providing new job opportunities for local residents.