Meta is doubling its AI data center in Richland Parish. President and Vice Chairman of Meta, Dina Powell McCormick, says they now plan to spend as much as $50 billion on the project and related infrastructure, up from the $10 billion it originally planned.
“This will be the largest data center in the country. It will be really built by local workers through our America’s Workforce Academy, and the jobs that are being created in Richland Parish and beyond,” McCormick said.
Governor Landry says artificial intelligence continues to accelerate worldwide , the infrastructure powering it is expanding to meet the growing demand. He says with this investment, Meta is establishing the Richland Parish Data Center as the cornerstone of its global infrastructure, and it puts Louisiana in a great spot too.
“Today they have multiplied that investment in a way that places Louisiana at the center, as I said, of one of the most important technology investments anywhere in the world,” Landry said.
The site will encompass more than 3,200 acres, more than four times larger than New York City’s Central Park. Landry says his administration has created an environment where companies can move quickly and build at scale.
“Today’s announcement means that since the beginning of 2024, the state of Louisiana has now secured more than $150 billion in announced capital investments,” Landry noted.
The project will support 7,500 construction jobs as well as 1,000 permanent jobs once it becomes fully operational in 2036.
There are concerns this massive AI data center in north Louisiana will increase electricity bills for residents, because of the amount of power it takes to run one of these facilities. But Landry says Meta and Entergy have come up with a plan for ratepayers to not bear the extra costs.
“In fact, our citizens are paid; in other words, they are going to recognize electrical generation savings in their utility bills and a build-out in Louisiana’s electrical infrastructure,” Landry explained.
Comments