As Entergy pushes to fast-track 10 new gas plants for Meta, energy advocates head to court to protect Louisianans and their utility rates.
Earthjustice, representing the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Alliance for Affordable Energy, has appealed a Louisiana Public Service Commission decision allowing Meta to withhold information about its data center near Monroe and Rayville in Richland Parish. The case concerns Entergy Louisiana's proposal to build seven additional gas plants and related infrastructure, with billions of dollars in potential costs shifted to ratepayers.
Earthjustice filed an appeal in a Louisiana state district court after the Louisiana Public Service Commission overrode an administrative law judge's orders requiring Meta to disclose projected investment, permanent jobs and electricity demand for its data center under construction near Monroe and Rayville in Richland Parish. The appeal argues that the commission's decision was arbitrary and asks the court to halt the proceeding and require the record to be reopened after Meta provides the requested information.
Entergy Louisiana is seeking expedited approval to build seven additional gas plants, battery storage and transmission infrastructure to serve the data center, after receiving approval for three plants for its first phase. The proposed expansion could involve roughly $13.6 billion in generation capital costs, with an estimated $3.4 billion remaining for other customers after Meta's 20-year contract. Three of four commissioners voted to deny the subpoena at an August 2026 meeting, prompting opposition from community members and clean-energy advocates over ratepayer costs, emissions and grid reliability risks.