Entergy Vice President of Business Operations Laura Beauchamp says Meta’s Richland Parish data center will help fund improvements to the Entergy power grid across the state. She says the investment is already being felt locally.
“What they’re also seeing is an extraordinary opportunity, from a local business perspective. And so, there’s a tremendous amount of jobs happening in both construction and food service; community colleges, the local university in Monroe,” Beauchamp noted.
ULM’s construction management enrollment has increased 37%.
To power the data center, Entergy is building 10 new power plants funded by Meta. Six will be near the Richland Parish facility while four will be built in St. Charles and Pointe Coupee Parishes. Beauchamp says the project could actually save customers billions of dollars over the next 20 years.
“Just by the sheer fact that they are becoming a customer, they pay the rates that all customers pay today and over these 20 years. That’s $2.6 billion that will be saved for all customers. The rates will not go up because of Meta,” Beauchamp explained.
Beauchamp says Louisiana construction job opportunities are nearing their peak with massive projects across the state. She says nearly all of Entergy’s work is done by Louisiana contractors, and they’ve asked Meta to make that a priority as well.
“We want to keep the paychecks in the State of Louisiana. We don’t want to create a job, and then ship that money out of state; and so we’re very proud of approaching 100% of these jobs and these paychecks staying with local families,” Beauchamp said.
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