Groups fight Meta secrecy, claims Louisiana shielding data center records
The Alliance for Affordable Energy and Union of Concerned Scientists, represented by Earthjustice, appealed a Louisiana Public Service Commission decision that blocked access to Meta records related to its planned Richland Parish data center. The records concern the facility’s electricity demand, economic benefits and the justification for Entergy Louisiana’s proposed $14 billion power infrastructure expansion.
Two advocacy groups have asked the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge to overturn the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s decision to vacate a subpoena requiring Meta to provide records about its Richland Parish data center. The Alliance for Affordable Energy and Union of Concerned Scientists, represented by Earthjustice, want regulators to reopen the evidentiary record and halt activity tied to Entergy Louisiana’s application while the court reviews the dispute.
The records are sought as Entergy proposes seven natural gas-fired generating units, battery storage and transmission upgrades to serve Meta’s expanding facility, including the company’s Hyperion artificial intelligence cluster. Meta has projected a more than $50 billion investment and substantial job creation, while Entergy executive Phillip May said the site would require 4,500 megawatts. Meta and Entergy maintain that the project will pay for its energy and infrastructure and protect other customers, but the advocacy groups argue that regulators relied on unsupported company claims and failed to explain why they reversed an administrative law judge’s subpoena ruling.