Meta has announced plans to build a new artificial intelligence data center in northeast Louisiana, with an estimated investment of $10 billion. The facility is expected to create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, bringing much-needed investment to an economically neglected corner of the state.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry hailed the project as “the largest private capital announcement” in the state’s history. However, environmental and affordable energy groups have raised concerns about the facility’s energy usage and impact on local infrastructure.
To address these concerns, Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for Richland parish, where the facility will be located. Entergy, a major utility provider, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants capable of generating 2,262 megawatts of energy for the data center over a 15-year period.
The company aims to bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future, although some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Despite these concerns, Meta’s investment is seen as a significant boost to Louisiana’s economy and a step towards transforming an economically neglected area.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-tech/louisiana-governor-hails-metas-plans-new-ai-facility-largest-private-capital-announcement-state