Meta and the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) announced a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana. This investment solidifies the state’s status as a central innovation hub and leader in the global digital revolution. The four million-square-foot data center, to be based in Richland Parish, will be Meta’s largest in the world. Construction on the facility is expected to continue through 2030.
Meta predicts 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.
Hyperscaler data centers like the one planned for Richland Parish are housed in large physical structures designed to process the vast amounts of data required to support digital technologies, including AI workloads. And the facility is the largest of more than 20 Meta data centers worldwide.
Once launched, 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.
And 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 an 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.
Meta is expected to take advantage of a new Louisiana incentive program, established by Act 730. This program 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.
For powering 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. And Meta 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. Plus, 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.
Along with 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. And Meta has pledged to restore more water than it consumes at this data center by investing in water restoration projects in Louisiana.
To support the construction and eventual operation of the data center, the 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. And 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 starting in December. And the company has also committed to invest more than $200 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems.
KEY QUOTES:
“Today, Louisiana begins a new chapter. Today, we are delivering new jobs and economic growth on a scale unimaginable before we took office. 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.”
- Governor Jeff Landry
“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. 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.”
- Kevin Janda, Meta Director of Data Center Strategy
“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. 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.”
- LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois
“This partnership underscores Entergy Louisiana’s commitment to powering progress and driving innovation. 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.”
- Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May
