Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta in early December announced it will build a $10 billion artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana.
To power the data center, which at its largest point extends more than one mile from front to back, Entergy will add power plants to its system to meet growing power demands, including from the data center, the investor-owned utility said on Dec. 4.
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, Entergy said.
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.
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, Entergy said. 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 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.
The company is expected to take advantage of a new Louisiana incentive program that offers qualifying projects a state and local sales and use tax rebate on the purchase or lease of data center equipment.
Meta Looks to Identify Nuclear Energy Developers to Help Meet AI Goals, Targets 1-4 GW
Meta on Dec. 3 announced it will release a request for proposals to identify nuclear energy developers to help the company meet its artificial intelligence innovation and sustainability objectives -- targeting 1-4 gigawatts of new nuclear generation capacity in the U.S.
