Entergy Louisiana and Meta have reached an additional agreement tied to the company’s planned data center in Northeast Louisiana, a move officials say will deliver billions in customer savings while boosting economic growth in the region.
The agreement, announced this week, is structured to ensure Meta pays its full cost of service and is expected to generate about $2 billion in savings for Entergy Louisiana customers over 20 years, in addition to the $650 million previously announced.
Combined, the agreements are projected to deliver approximately $2.65 billion in total customer benefits, while positioning Louisiana as a growing hub for high-tech development.
“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. “We are making targeted investments that strengthen reliability, support economic development and deliver meaningful benefits to customers while keeping energy rates affordable.”
State leaders said the continued investment signals growing momentum for large-scale economic development projects in Louisiana.
“Over the past two years, Louisiana has taken decisive steps to strengthen our business climate,” Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said in a joint statement. “The continued commitment from a global company like Meta reinforces that Louisiana is a place where you can compete, grow and succeed at scale.”
The project is expected to bring significant economic impact to Richland Parish and the surrounding region, including thousands of construction jobs between 2026 and 2031, along with permanent positions in engineering, maintenance and support services.
Officials said the development will also generate increased tax revenue to support schools, public safety and infrastructure, while expanding workforce opportunities.
In addition to economic benefits, the agreement includes funding commitments aimed at reducing energy costs and supporting communities. Meta has pledged: $120 million, including matching funds, for Entergy’s Power to Care program $140 million for energy efficiency initiatives for vulnerable customers Support for additional carbon-free nuclear energy solutions Support for renewable energy development, including up to 2,500 megawatts of solar capacity Rachel Peterson, vice president of data centers at Meta, said the project represents a major step in building next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure.
“Our Richland Parish data center serves as a symbol of the ambition and scale of next-generation AI infrastructure,” Peterson said. “We’ve worked closely with Entergy to ensure our power needs are met while protecting other customers from bearing those costs.”
To support the project, Entergy Louisiana plans a major expansion of energy infrastructure, funded by Meta, including new natural gas power plants, transmission lines, battery storage and potential nuclear energy upgrades.
Once completed, officials said the investments will improve reliability, strengthen the power grid and support long-term growth across the state.
The project will also be the first submitted under the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s newly adopted “Lightning Amendment,” designed to support large-scale economic development while maintaining regulatory oversight and customer protections.
