Bossier Parish Police Jury Advances Benton Data Center Plans Following Public Input

The Bossier Parish Police Jury has approved development plans for a large-scale data center near Benton, Louisiana, following a public meeting on March 18. The decision advances the proposed Highway 3 Technology Park, which spans over 1,000 acres and is slated to host a future campus for Amazon Web Services, with STACK Infrastructure and project partners involved in the development. The public hearing, which extended for over two hours, saw numerous residents voice both support for the economic benefits and concerns regarding the project's long-term impacts. Key issues raised by the community included water usage, potential environmental effects, noise pollution, infrastructure demands, and transparency surrounding the project's early stages. Project representatives addressed these concerns, detailing that the 1.3 million-square-foot campus would utilize approximately 57 million gallons of water annually, considered efficient for its size, with Bossier City providing up to 13.5 million gallons per day and developers funding pipeline construction. Wastewater management will involve on-site treatment for industrial water and handling by the Town of Benton for domestic wastewater. Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) confirmed the data center would not increase local electricity rates, with developers covering infrastructure costs for power. Amanda Nottingham, SWEPCO's VP of external affairs, reiterated the utility's commitment to protecting ratepayers. The project is estimated to create 500 construction jobs and 270 permanent positions with above-average wages, positioning it as a significant economic opportunity for Northwest Louisiana. Despite acknowledging resident concerns, police jurors expressed confidence in the development's benefits and urged continued public engagement as the project progresses towards construction.