Meta is investing $10 billion in its largest artificial intelligence data center yet, located in northeast Louisiana, as the company expands its operations under Elon Musk’s leadership. The 4 million square foot facility will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs when completed in 2030.
Governor Jeff Landry has hailed the project as “game-changing” for his state’s tech sector, while environmental groups have expressed concerns over the center’s reliance on fossil fuels and potential impact on energy bills. Meta plans to offset its water usage by investing $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements in the affected parish.
The data center will be powered by natural gas, with Entergy planning to build three power plants capable of generating 2,262 megawatts over a 15-year period. However, environmental advocates have warned that this could lead to higher energy bills for Louisiana residents in the future.
Meanwhile, xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, which has raised concerns about pollution and health risks from the facility. Meta’s plan to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements aims to mitigate some of these issues.
The move is seen as a positive development for Richland parish, a rural area with a population of 20,000 that historically relied on agriculture. The data center will be completed by 2030 and is expected to transform the local economy.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/musk-meta-artificial-intelligence-data-center-1cf320ad4d50bff8d3fac4d0535a0004