Landry, Jones join Trump for White House roundtable on AI, energy
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Richland Parish School Superintendent Sheldon Jones joined President Trump at a White House roundtable focused on AI data centers and electricity costs. Governor Landry highlighted Louisiana's agreement with Entergy and Meta for a $50 billion data center in Richland Parish as an example of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. This pledge aims to ensure technology companies pay their own electricity costs, preventing them from being shifted to consumers.
President Donald Trump hosted a White House roundtable on July 23, joined by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Richland Parish School Superintendent Sheldon Jones, to discuss the administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge and the economic impact of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The primary goal of the event was to ensure that technology companies operating large AI data centers bear the full cost of their electricity consumption, rather than shifting these expenses to residential and business consumers.
Governor Landry was among 22 governors who signed Trump's pledge, which over 220 entities, including utilities and tech companies, have now endorsed. Landry cited Louisiana’s specific agreement involving Entergy and Meta’s ongoing $50 billion data center project in Richland Parish as a successful implementation of the initiative. He stated that this deal is projected to save Louisiana ratepayers $2.6 billion and enhance the state's electric grid.
Superintendent Jones elaborated on the local impact of Meta’s substantial investment, noting that it has already provided funding for STEM resources, technology upgrades, and workforce development within Richland Parish schools. He underscored how such corporate investments translate into tangible benefits for the community, demonstrating a direct link between tech development and local upliftment. The meeting followed Meta’s announcement of its $50 billion investment in Richland Parish, marking one of Louisiana's largest economic development projects.