Gov. Landry to announce new initiative to protect Louisiana ratepayers
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order, the Louisiana Ratepayer and Community Protection Initiative, to safeguard residents from the costs associated with data center development. The order directs the Louisiana Economic Development to establish clear criteria for power-intensive projects, ensuring natural resource protection and grid resiliency. This action comes amidst concerns about large data center projects, including Meta's deal with Entergy, potentially burdening ratepayers.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed an executive order, the Louisiana Ratepayer and Community Protection Initiative, aimed at protecting citizens from potential cost burdens associated with the state's growing data center industry. The order mandates the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to establish stringent criteria for all power-intensive projects, focusing on ratepayer protection, natural resource preservation, and grid reliability.
The initiative follows Governor Landry's previous concerns, particularly regarding a deal between utility provider Entergy and Meta, where he had been assured that costs would not be transferred to ratepayers. Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May affirmed that Meta is slated to cover grid maintenance and upgrade costs, projecting over $2.65 billion in savings for customers over two decades and a 10% reduction in storm charges due to Meta's contributions.
However, Public Service Commissioner Lewis, representing District 3, criticized the executive order as