Meta to fund natural gas plants to power its largest data center

Meta has agreed to privately fund the energy infrastructure needed to power its largest and newest data center, currently under construction in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The facility, projected to cost $27 billion, will require up to 5 gigawatts of power, comparable to the needs of approximately 1 million homes. To address concerns about the massive energy consumption and prevent local residents from bearing the cost through increased electricity bills, Meta has entered into an agreement with Entergy Louisiana. Under this deal, Meta will finance the construction of new energy infrastructure throughout the state. This includes seven new natural gas power plants with a combined output of 5,200 megawatts, 240 miles of 500-kilovolt transmission lines, and three new battery storage locations. The initiative comes amid broader societal concerns regarding the economic disruptions, environmental impact, and strain on local energy grids caused by artificial intelligence and data centers. Public opinion polls indicate support across political lines for stronger regulation of these technologies, even as their usage remains high.