Meta funds seven gas plants to power biggest data center

Meta Platforms Inc. has finalized an agreement with Entergy Corp. to build seven new natural gas-fired plants, providing an additional 5.2 gigawatts of electricity to its Hyperion data center in rural Richland Parish, Louisiana. This expansion will bring the total number of gas plants to ten, aiming to supply more than 7 gigawatts of power, making Hyperion Meta's largest data center. Beyond the power plants, Meta will also finance 240 miles of transmission lines, battery energy storage, and nuclear power upgrades. Entergy stated the deal is structured to ensure Meta covers the full cost of service, projecting over $2 billion in customer savings for the utility over 20 years. Rachel Peterson, Meta's Vice President of data centers, commented that the agreement highlights Louisiana's business-friendly environment and aligns with White House Ratepayer Protection Plans. The new gas plants require approval from state regulators. This move comes amid increasing demand for energy from artificial intelligence infrastructure and scrutiny over tech companies' environmental impact and energy consumption. While Meta increases its reliance on fossil fuels, the agreement also includes a commitment from Meta to fund up to 2.5 gigawatts of new renewable resources and to explore future nuclear power development.