Utility Entergy said Meta platforms will pay the full cost of service for the planned hyperscale data center in northeast Louisiana under a revised agreement. The company said the revised agreement is expected to deliver nearly $2 billion in customer savings over 20 years, in addition to the $650 million announced last year.
Meta had disclosed plans to invest about $10 billion in a hyperscale data center in Richland Parish, northeast Louisiana, in a project announced in late 2024. Entergy Louisiana, which received the state’s regulatory approval last year for investments tied to the project, said it plans to carry out a major build-out of generation, transmission and storage infrastructure.
This includes seven new natural gas-fired power plants with capacity of more than 5,200 megawatts, new high-voltage transmission lines, battery storage and nuclear power upgrades.
READ: Meta’s Louisiana AI data center upends local community (November 25, 2025)
“This agreement reflects what’s possible when strong partners align around long-term growth and value,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “Working with our customers, regulators and state leaders, we are making targeted investments that strengthen reliability, support economic development and deliver meaningful benefits to customers — all while keeping energy rates affordable, which aligns perfectly with Meta’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge and Entergy’s Fair Share Plus pledge.”
“Our Richland Parish data center serves as a symbol of the ambition and scale of next-generation AI infrastructure. With the potential to scale up to 5GW, we are building foundations for the future of AI innovation right here in the United States. We’ve been working closely with Entergy since early on-site planning to ensure our power needs are met and, importantly, so that Entergy’s other consumers aren’t paying our costs. Entergy’s filing for new energy generation represents one of several factors needed to move an expansion of this project forward, demonstrates the business-friendly environment in Louisiana that makes projects like this possible and aligns with the principles in the recently signed White House Ratepayer Protection Plans,” said Rachel Peterson, Vice President, Data Centers at Meta.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said about the deal, “Today, Louisiana once again demonstrates our commitment to capital and job creation,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. “I want to express my gratitude to Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta team, and Entergy for showcasing how growth in this field can be achieved while prioritizing consumer interests. Their policy has set a precedent that should become the norm, not the exception.”
READ: US clears Nvidia to export $1 billion worth of AI chips to UAE, Saudi Arabia (
However, not everyone shares the governor’s enthusiasm. According to previous reports, the data center has been a source of controversy due to its impact on the local community, infrastructure, and environment. The project, one of the largest in the state, has brought thousands of construction workers and heavy truck traffic to the small town, which local reports say has caused safety concerns, road damage, and an increase in vehicle accidents. Some residents have reported water discoloration and occasional power outages, though the exact cause has not been independently verified. Some have also expressed environmental concerns about the new gas-fired plans.